Malaysia has been ranked 13th out of 163 countries in the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025, maintaining its position as one of the most peaceful countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the world is experiencing a continued decline in peacefulness for the sixth consecutive year, with rising conflicts, higher militarisation levels and worsening global instability.
Despite the global trend, Malaysia continues to perform strongly, reflecting its relatively low levels of internal conflict, stable governance and effective public security management.
The top 10 most peaceful countries in the 2025 index are Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia and Finland. These nations remain largely concentrated in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, with Singapore being the only other Asian country in the top 10 alongside Malaysia’s regional peers.
Malaysia’s ranking at 13th place places it just behind Japan and ahead of several developed nations such as Canada and Australia in some recent variations of the index, highlighting its consistent performance in maintaining public order and national stability.
The report also notes that Malaysia remains one of the top three most peaceful countries in Asia-Pacific, driven by relatively low crime rates and continued improvements in security coordination.
Analysts say Malaysia’s standing reflects ongoing efforts in strengthening law enforcement and maintaining social harmony, even as global tensions continue to escalate across multiple regions.
The GPI 2025 further warns of a “fragmenting world order”, where geopolitical divisions are deepening and conflicts are becoming more complex and widespread, making Malaysia’s stable position increasingly significant in a volatile global landscape.
