According to an annual report from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Botswana, Kuwait, Morocco, Kazakstan, Vietnam, Angola, and Burkina Faso all have one surprising thing in common: they are more peaceful than the US.
The Global Peace Index from the Institute for Economics and Peace compiles yearly rankings of 'peacefulness' in 162 nations worldwide based on 23 different types of data.
The Institute for Economics and Peace attempts to answer a simple question: Is the world getting more or less peaceful?
While the most peaceful nations in the world are growing more peaceful, with some reaching historic highs, the least peaceful countries are descending further into chaos and war.
The report also includes an analysis of the economic impact of containing and dealing with the consequences of global violence. Last year violence containment was estimated to be $14.3 trillion which is approximately 13.4% of the world's gross domestic product.
Of the top 20 peaceful countries in the world, 15 are located in Europe. Greece rose 22 places, and the United Kingdom rose eight, after diminishing their military presence in Afghanistan.
The US sits in the middle tier of the ranking due to long-running international military campaigns, unparalleled levels of incarceration, homicide, and colossal military spending.
