Qatar Ranks First in MENA for Global Peace Index

The National Planning Council announced Monday that the State of Qatar ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa region in the 2026 Global Peace Index. This significant achievement marks Qatar as the undisputed leader in the MENA region, according to the annual report. The 2026 Global Peace Index, a full publication by the Institute for Economics and Peace, assesses countries worldwide based on their levels of peacefulness, providing a detailed analysis of the factors contributing to stability and security. This recognition shows Qatar's commitment to fostering a secure and stable environment for its residents and visitors.

Qatar's Peace Performance

A notable highlight of Qatar's performance in the 2026 Global Peace Index is the improvement in its score within the Societal Safety and Security domain. The country's score in this key area enhanced, moving from 1.400 to 1.369. This positive shift reflects tangible enhancements in various metrics utilized to assess the safety and security within the country's borders. The Societal Safety and Security domain is a critical component of the index, evaluating the extent of personal safety and security experienced by individuals in society. This domain encompasses a broad range of factors, including the prevalence of violent crime, the level of political instability, and public perceptions of criminality. The sustained improvements in this area have significantly contributed to Qatar's overall standing and its leading position in the index. The lower score indicates a higher level of peacefulness and safety, signifying a positive trend in the nation's security landscape.

About the Global Peace Index

The Global Peace Index is an authoritative annual publication produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace. It serves as a full measure of global peacefulness, providing a strong ranking of countries based on a diverse set of indicators. The index is widely recognized for its in-depth analysis of peace trends and its methodology for evaluating national peacefulness.

The index evaluates the level of peace within countries by assessing three key domains, each comprising multiple qualitative and quantitative indicators. These domains include societal safety and security, which meticulously examines the extent of personal safety and security within a nation. Beyond this, the index also takes into account indicators related to ongoing domestic and international conflict, analyzing a country's involvement in internal and external disputes, as well as its relations with neighboring states. The third domain, militarization, assesses the level of military expenditure, armed services personnel, and access to weapons, providing a holistic view of a nation's military posture and its potential impact on peace. This multi-faceted approach ensures a thorough and nuanced understanding of peace across the globe.

Broader Significance

Qatar's consistent high ranking in the Global Peace Index shows its established position as a stable and secure nation within the Middle East and North Africa region. The findings, meticulously compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, contribute to a broader and more profound understanding of the country's security environment and its strong societal framework. The National Planning Council has prominently noted these results as indicative of ongoing and successful efforts to maintain peace and safety across the nation. Such sustained performance in an internationally recognized index can significantly influence international perceptions, potentially affecting key areas such as foreign investment, by presenting Qatar as a reliable and secure destination, and tourism, by assuring visitors of a safe and welcoming environment. The index's full domains, including societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarization, offer a full view that extends beyond immediate conflict metrics, encompassing daily life, institutional stability, and the overall peacefulness of the society. This holistic evaluation provides valuable insights into the foundations of Qatar's enduring stability.