Sierra Leone moved 19 places down from 47th in 2023 to 66th position in the just-released 2024 Global Peace Index that ranks and assesses 163 countries.

The country also moved 3 places down in Sub-Saharan Africa, from 5th in 2023 to 8th in the 2024 ranking out of 44 countries.

The Global Peace Index 2024 further reveals that the world is at a crossroads. Without concerted effort, there is a risk of a surge in major conflicts. There are currently 56 conflicts, the most since World War II. They have become more international with 92 countries involved in conflicts outside their borders, the most since the GPI’s inception.

The rising number of minor conflicts increases the likelihood of more major conflicts in the future. For example, in 2019, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Gaza were all identified as minor conflicts.

Key results

• 97 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, more than any year since the inception of the Global Peace Index in 2008.
• Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine were the primary drivers of the global fall in peacefulness, as battle deaths reached 162,000 in 2023.
• 92 countries are currently involved in conflicts beyond their borders, more than at any time since the inception of the GPI.
• First of its kind military scoring system suggests that US military capabilities are up to three times higher than China.
• The global economic impact of violence increased to $19.1 trillion in 2023, representing 13.5% of global GDP. Exposure to conflict poses a significant supply chain risk for governments and businesses.
• Militarisation recorded its largest yearly deterioration since the inception of the GPI, with 108 countries becoming more militarised.
• 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict, with 16 countries now hosting more than half a million refugees.
• North America saw the largest regional deterioration, driven by increases in violent crime and fear of violence.