Fez – Morocco has moved up 20 places in the 2026 Global Peace Index, ranking 65th out of 163 countries and territories worldwide.
The new position places the country first in the Maghreb, seventh in Africa and fourth in the Arab world.
The index, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), evaluates countries based on 23 indicators covering safety and security, the level of internal and external conflict, and the degree of militarization.
The report covers 99.7 percent of the world’s population and is considered one of the most comprehensive studies on global peace trends.
Morocco received a score of 1.895 points, with lower scores reflecting a higher level of peace.
The country was classified among nations with a “high” level of peacefulness, one of five categories ranging from very high to very low.
The latest ranking marks a significant improvement for Morocco, which was placed 85th in the previous edition of the index.
The country now stands ahead of several regional peers and continues to lead the Maghreb in terms of peace and stability.
At the African level, Morocco ranked seventh.
Mauritius topped, coming 18th globally; it was followed by Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Gambia, Madagascar and Namibia.
Qatar led the rankings in the Arab world after placing 31st globally, ahead of Kuwait and Oman.
Morocco came fourth among Arab countries and was immediately followed by Jordan.
Across the Maghreb, Tunisia ranked second after Morocco, placing 77th worldwide.
Algeria came 91st, followed by Mauritania in 112th place and Libya in 125th.
Globally, Iceland retained its position as the world’s most peaceful country, a title it has held since 2008.
New Zealand, Switzerland, and Slovenia completed the top four. At the other end of the ranking, countries including Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Russia remained among the least peaceful.
Despite Morocco’s progress, the report paints a worrying picture for the world as a whole.
The Global Peace Index recorded a 0.7 percent decline in the average level of peace over the past year, marking the 12th consecutive annual deterioration.
According to the report, 99 countries saw their levels of peace worsen, while only 62 recorded improvements.
The study also noted that 119 countries are now less peaceful than they were in 2008, with armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions remaining the main drivers of this decline.
Morocco’s improved standing nevertheless highlights the country’s relative stability in an increasingly uncertain global environment and reinforces its position as the most peaceful nation in the Maghreb.
