This is the thirteenth edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), which ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness.

Bangladesh has ranked 101st out of 163 countries with a global score of 2.128 while in last year its position was 93 with the score of 2.084, according to the report.

Afghanistan is now the least peaceful country in the world, replacing Syria while in South Asia, Bhutan topped the index with 15th rank, followed by Sri Lanka 72.

Bhutan has recorded the largest improvement of any country in the top 20, rising 43 places in the last 12 years.

Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark.

The GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness. This report presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to date on peace, its economic value, trends, and how to develop peaceful societies.

The GPI covers 99.7 per cent of the world’s population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, and measures the state of peace using three thematic domains: the level of Societal Safety and Security; the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict; and the degree of Militarisation.

Perceptions of peacefulness have increased in some areas but decreased in others. More people across the world now feel that they have more freedom in life, are more satisfied with life, and are treated with more respect than in 2008.

Many more people also feel that their countries are better places to live for ethnic and religious minorities. However, the daily feelings of sadness, worry, and stress have also increased over the same time period, said the report.