Global Peace Index: Morocco Ranks as Safest North African Country, Climbs 7 Spots

The 14th edition of the Global Peace Index ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peace, reports Maroc Hebdo. This ranking presents the most comprehensive data analysis to date on peace trends, its economic value and how to develop peaceful societies.

While Morocco is ranked 83rd in 2020 compared to 90th in 2019, as the safest country in the world, it has progressed by 7 places and thus becomes the first country in North Africa ahead of Tunisia 92nd, Algeria 117th, Egypt 130th and Libya 157th.

According to the same media, this progress of Morocco is justified by its level of security and safety, the degree of pacifism and involvement or not in local and international conflicts, and other indicators such as the rather low crime rate, terrorism or violent demonstrations within the country.

Regarding the field of militarization, the GPI took into account seven criteria, namely military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, the number of armed forces members per 100,000 inhabitants, the volume of conventional arms imported and exported per 100,000 inhabitants, the financial contribution to UN peacekeeping missions, heavy and nuclear weapons capabilities, and the ease of access to small arms and light weapons. In addition, the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on international relations were taken into account this year in the criteria that led to the choice of these countries.