Malaysia, celebrated for its rich tapestry of cultures and communal harmony, has achieved significant recognition on the international stage by securing the 19th place in the Global Peace Index.
Scoring 1.513, Malaysia edged out Belgium, which came in close at 20th with a score of 1.523.
This ranking underlines the country’s commitment to fostering peace among its diverse population of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and various indigenous groups.
Malaysia ranked 4th in Asia, 19th in the world
According to the Global Peace Index, Malaysia is also ranked 4th in the Asia Pacific region with a score change of 0.036.
New Zealand tops the list with a score of 1.313, while Singapore and Japan score 1.332 and 1.336, respectively.
Iceland ranked 1st in the world
Leading the peace index is Iceland, maintaining its position with a remarkable score of 1.124, due to its geographic isolation and investment in renewable energy.
Following Iceland are Denmark and Ireland, with scores of 1.310 and 1.312 respectively, each lauded for their effective governance and policies promoting social cohesion and environmental sustainability.
The Global Peace Index, curated by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), offers an exhaustive analysis of peace in 163 countries, covering 99.7% of the world’s population.
Read also: M’sia Ranked 2nd Happiest Country In Southeast Asia, Right Behind S’pore
How was it assessed?
It assesses peace using three dimensions: societal safety and security, the prevalence of domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization.
This year’s data shows varied global trends, with 84 countries improving in their peace scores, while 79 witnessed declines.
Overall, the global peacefulness has decreased by 0.42%.
This year’s results found that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.42 per cent. This is the thirteenth deterioration in peacefulness in the last fifteen years, with 84 countries improving and 79 deteriorating in peacefulness in 2022,” it wrote.
As Malaysia continues to build on its peace initiatives, it serves as a model of how diversity can coexist with peace and stability, contributing positively to its international image and the well-being of its citizens.
