Uneven Global Peace: How and Why Tranquillity Varies Across Regions, Religions, and Economies

This study analyses global peace trends from 2008 to 2024 and explores how peace varies across regions, religious demographics, economic conditions, and geographical characteristics in 2024. Using descriptive statistics—mean, standard deviation, trend analysis, and Pearson correlation—based on Global Peace Index data, it evaluates cross-country patterns in peacefulness. The findings show that most countries have largely maintained their relative peace status over time, with only a few experiencing significant deterioration or improvement. Although economic prosperity is positively associated with peace, political factors emerge as more decisive. Political stability is the most influential determinant, followed by governance quality and the extent of external intervention. While Islamic-majority countries record lower average peace scores than Christian-majority and secular nations, the analysis finds no evidence that religion itself determines peace outcomes. Instead, institutional strength, political context, and regional dynamics explain much of the variation. Geographical positioning also matters: countries near conflict-prone regions and landlocked states tend to be less peaceful, whereas island nations generally display higher peace levels. Overall, the study highlights the need to strengthen governance, ensure political stability, promote regional cooperation, and reduce external intervention to achieve sustainable global peace.