The Global Peace Index (GPI) is the world`s leading measure of national peacefulness. Now in its sixth year, it ranks 158 nations around the globe.

In the latest study (GPI) by The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), “Tiquicia” is located within the 40 most peaceful countries in the world today occupying 36th place, only surpassed in Latin America by Chile (30) and Uruguay (33).

Although, in a good position in the global index, Costa Rica has given places compared to previous years, for example in 2009 it was ranked 29, highest position so far, while in 2011 was located at position 31.

To know why Costa Rica has declined its position in the World Peace Index, we should look back to the 23 indicators that are considered by the IEP, among which are:

-Perceived criminality in society
-Security officers & police
-Homicides
-Jailed population
-Access to weapons
-Organized conflict (internal)
-Violent demonstrations
-Violent crime
-Political instability
-Political terror
-Weapons imports
-Terrrorist acts
-Deaths from conflict (internal)
-Military expenditure
-Armed services personnel
-UN peacekeeping funding
-Heavy weapons
-Weapons exports
-Military capability
-Displaced people
-Neighbouring country relation
-Conflicts fought
-Death from conflict (external)

Costa Rica, despite being a country with no weapons, no army, that does not manufacture weapons, no terrorism, no armed conflicts and known as a country with a peaceful idiosyncrasy, was punished and demoted in position due to the level founded in categories such as homicide and easy access to guns. This is merely a call to conscience, the Costa Rican government and the “Ticos” in general to take steps to prevent and reduce the factors that have led to these results.

However, globally, the study shows that the world has become a more peaceful place in the last year, which does away with the trend of the last two years:

“What we see dramatically in this year’s results and trends of these six years is a shift in global priorities. Nations have become more peaceful externally, as they compete through economic means rather than military,” said through a press release Steve Killelea, CEO of IEP.

According to the IEP, Iceland ranks first while Somalia was ranked 158 at the end of the table as the least peaceful country in the world. In the same vein in Latin America there is an intermediate level with Chile at the head (at number 30). While the Central American countries like Guatemala and Honduras are founded in very low positions, 124 and 129, respectively.

Source: La Nación