Juliet Jacob, Ogbodo Ozioma Favour
Nigeria has been listed among the most dangerous countries in the world to live in 2024, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2023 report.
The factors used to compile this report include the number of internal and external violent conflicts, level of distrust, political instability, potential for terrorist acts, number of homicides, and military expenditures as a percentage of GDP.
The 2023 report showed a global deterioration in peace by 0.42%, with 84 countries becoming safer and 79 becoming less safe. This marks the thirteenth decline in the past fifteen years.
The report highlighted that Russia and Ukraine saw significant increases in danger from 2021 to 2023, primarily due to their ongoing military conflict initiated by Russia’s invasion.
Afghanistan remains the most dangerous country in 2023, despite a significant decrease in conflict-related deaths from nearly 43,000 to just over 4,000.
Other countries topping the list include Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, DR Congo, Ukraine, Sudan, Iraq, Mali, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, North Korea, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and Myanmar.
The report also pointed out that Israel’s conflict with Hamas, resulting after the attack of October 7, 2023, has added significantly to Israel’s higher danger risk indicator.
The Global Peace Index serves as a crucial tool for policymakers, researchers, and the general public to understand the state of peace in different countries and regions and to identify potential areas for improvement.
