In a year in which the annual report of the Institute for Economics and Peace, based in Sydney, indicates an average deterioration of the global level of peace of 0.42%, Portugal also worsens its performance.

On a scale of 01 (very peaceful) to 05 (not very peaceful), Portugal goes from 1,301 to 1,333 points in a year, falling from sixth to seventh place, in an index led by Iceland since 2008.

Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria and Singapore, which rose three places this year and surpassed Portugal, are the remaining countries at the top of the index.

At the opposite extreme are Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Global Peace Index, currently in its 17th edition, provides an annual analysis of peace trends, economic value and how to develop peaceful societies, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators in three domains: the level of security and social protection, the dimension of the ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of militarisation.

Portugal stands out in this last domain, in which it rose from eighth to fourth place, behind Iceland, Malaysia and Hungary.

The area of ​​militarisation has actually improved at a global level, with all regions registering reductions since 2008.

The Global Peace Index, which covers 99.7% of the world's population, recorded an average deterioration in world peace this year, with 84 countries improving and 79 deteriorating in 2022.