Doha: Qatar topped the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the fourth year in a row, according to the Global Peace Index Report for 2022. Qatar ranked 23 globally among 163 countries included in the report, advancing by six places over the previous year and it secured an overall score of (1.530) above many of the developed countries.
The Global Peace Index report issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) in Australia, released on June 14, 2022, is based on three main criteria, which include the level of safety and security in society, the extent of domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarisation. There are more other criteria related to the internal and external affairs of countries. Qatar maintained its high rank in several security indicators included in the report, including criminality in society, terrorist activity, homicides, safety and security, organised internal conflicts, terrorism and political stability.
Qatar has maintained its lead in the MENA over the past years (2019-2022), and secured advanced positions globally during the same period, by achieving high ratings that outperformed many developed countries.
According to the report, Qatar’s top position in the Global Peace Index in the MENA, and its advanced ranks at the global level, confirms the high level of security and safety that Qatar enjoys, a low crime rate and political stability, in addition to being free from terrorist activities and threats, both internally and externally.
The report says that Qatar remains the most peaceful country in the MENA region for the 15th consecutive year and is the only MENA country to be amongst the 25 most peaceful countries globally. Qatar only deteriorated in three of the 23 GPI indicators in 2022: refugees and IDPs, perceptions of criminality and weapons exports. Perceptions of criminality has deteriorated in the country, but the overall level of crime in 2022 remains low. Twelve indicators experienced no change in the last year, while eight improved.
The highest improvement occurred in the political instability indicator, which improved by 28.6 percent, the second largest improvement of any nation globally. The GPI also ranked Qatar first in the Arab world and ninth globally in the index of the safest countries and with societal safety, advancing by six global points over the previous year, making Qatar one of the 10 safest countries in the world as it outperformed many countries such as Austria, Sweden, South Korea, the Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Taiwan and others.
The results of the report and other international reports that Qatar positions as one of the safest and most secure countries, confirm that this came as a result of the efforts of the Ministry of Interior to ensure achieving the best levels of security performance, combating crime, protecting life and property, in line with its vision and strategy.
Qatar’s degree of security and public and personal safety, has been ranked in lists such as the Global Peace Index, the Nambio Encyclopedia Index, the World Internal Security and Police Index, and the Global Terrorism Index, which ranked Qatar in first in the Middle East and North Africa in terms of security and safety.