Mauritius leads, Nigeria ranks 43… see most peaceful countries in Africa

The 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) on June 18, reveals that Mauritius remains the most peaceful country in Africa—and the 26th most peaceful globally—with a score of 1.586.

This marks the Indian Ocean nation’s 18th consecutive year holding the top spot in Africa, outperforming not just regional peers but also some Western nations like the UK and the United States

Regional Decline in Peacefulness

Despite these positive rankings, 26 out of 50 African countries experienced a decline in their peace scores compared to 2024, while 22 improved and 2 remained stable . Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the global hotspot for conflict, with 36 out of 44 countries involved in violence over the past five years—up from just seven in 2008.

Peace at a Global Low

Globally, peace has hit its lowest point since the GPI began in 2008. In 2024 alone, 87 countries saw deteriorations in peace, while 74 showed improvements. The number of active state-level conflicts reached 59, the highest since World War II, resulting in roughly 152,000 conflict-related deaths and costing the global economy nearly $20 trillion—about 11.6% of global GDP.

What the GPI Measures

The GPI scores each country from 0 (most peaceful) to 5 (least peaceful) across 23 indicators, grouped into three domains: Safety & Security, Ongoing Conflict, and Militarization. The index is widely regarded as the most comprehensive—and the 2025 report confirms global peace is continuing its six-year decline. 

Why These Rankings Matter

Mauritius’s sustained high ranking underscores the importance of strong governance, low crime, minimal internal conflict, and controlled militarization. Meanwhile, the regional trends in Sub-Saharan Africa raise alarm about persistent instability, even in countries like Nigeria that fall outside the top 10. On a global scale, the continued decline highlights the urgent need for renewed investment in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Africa’s 50 Most Peaceful Countries in 2025 (by global ranking):

1. Mauritius (26)
2. Botswana (43)
3. Namibia (50)
4. The Gambia (55)
5. Sierra Leone (57)
6. Madagascar (59)
7. Ghana (61)
8. Zambia (64)
9. Senegal (69)
10. Liberia (70)
11. Malawi (71)
12. Tanzania (73)
13. Angola (76)
14. Tunisia (81)
15. Equatorial Guinea (82)
16. Morocco (85)
17. Rwanda (91)
18. Algeria (92)
19. Côte d’Ivoire (94)
20. Eswatini (99)
21. Guinea-Bissau (101)
22. Republic of Congo (103)
23. Egypt (107)
24. Mauritania (110)
25. Benin (112)
26. Uganda (113)
27. Zimbabwe (114)
28. Gabon (117)
29. Guinea (118)
30. Lesotho (119)
31. Mozambique (121)
32. Djibouti (122)
33. South Africa (124)
34. Togo (126)
35. Kenya (127)
36. Libya (131)
37. Eritrea (132)
38. Burundi (133)
39. Chad (134)
40. Cameroon (137)
41. Ethiopia (138)
42. Niger (143)
43. Nigeria (148)
44. Central African Republic (150)
45. Somalia (151)
46. Burkina Faso (152)
47. Mali (154)
48. South Sudan (156)
49. DR Congo (160)
50. Sudan (161)