According to 'Global Peace Index, 2021', which of the following is the most peaceful region in the world?
- (a)Africa
- (b)Europe
- (c)Australia
- (d)South America
Correct — B, Europe. The Global Peace Index (GPI), published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranks countries and world regions by their level of peacefulness. In the 2021 edition, Europe was again the most peaceful region in the world — European states dominated the top of the table, with Iceland ranked the single most peaceful country (a position it has held for over a decade). Hence, among the given options, Europe is the most peaceful region.
- (a)Africa — Wrong — Africa (especially Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East & North Africa belt) contains several of the least peaceful states; it is not ranked the most peaceful region in GPI 2021.
- (c)Australia — Wrong — Australia is a single country (grouped in the Asia-Pacific region), not a 'region' of the GPI, and even as a country it is not the peace leader; the most peaceful region is Europe.
- (d)South America — Wrong — South America ranks in the middle of the regional table, below Europe, so it is not the most peaceful region in GPI 2021.
The Global Peace Index (GPI) is produced every year by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an independent think-tank. It measures 'negative peace' (the absence of violence or the fear of violence) across three broad domains: ongoing domestic and international conflict, societal safety and security, and the degree of militarisation. Countries are then aggregated into world regions; Europe has consistently topped the regional ranking.
The trap is to guess a familiar continent. GPI peace scores track conflict, homicide, incarceration and military spending — measures on which stable, low-conflict European democracies score best. Anchor the answer to 'Iceland = most peaceful country, Europe = most peaceful region', which has been true across many recent editions including 2021.
- Global Peace Index is published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
- GPI 2021 (15th edition) ranked Europe as the most peaceful region in the world.
- Iceland was the most peaceful country; conflict-hit states of the Middle East/North Africa sat near the bottom.
- GPI scores three domains: level of ongoing conflict, societal safety and security, and militarisation.
GPI (IEP) ranks Europe the most peaceful region; the least peaceful sit in the MENA/Sub-Saharan belt.
- Confusing the most peaceful 'region' (Europe) with the most peaceful 'country' (Iceland)
- Assuming a large, familiar continent like Africa or South America tops a peace ranking
UPPSC & UPSC test global indices by pairing the index with (a) its publishing agency and (b) the top-ranked country/region — remember GPI = IEP, Europe/Iceland on top.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Global Peace Index is published by which organisation?
- (a)United Nations Development Programme
- (b)Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)
- (c)World Economic Forum
- (d)Amnesty International
Answer(b) Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) — an independent think-tank that releases the GPI each year.
- practice — not a real PYQ
In the Global Peace Index, which country has repeatedly been ranked the most peaceful country in the world?
- (a)New Zealand
- (b)Denmark
- (c)Iceland
- (d)Switzerland
Answer(c) Iceland — the top-ranked country across many recent editions, including 2021.