The Philippines has made notable progress in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), climbing six spots to 105th out of 163 countries—its highest placement since ranking 87th in 2017. The improvement places the country above Papua New Guinea and North Korea in the Asia-Pacific region, although it still lags behind many of its neighbors.
According to the report released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the Philippines recorded a 2025 GPI score of 2.15, an improvement from its 2024 score of 2.27. However, this remains significantly higher (and therefore worse) than the Asia-Pacific regional average of 1.88.
The GPI evaluates countries across three key domains: militarization (1.71/5), ongoing conflict (2.18/5), and societal safety and security (2.43/5). The lower the score, the more peaceful the country is considered.
Despite the recent gain, the Philippines still sits near the lower end of the Asia-Pacific regional rankings. It trails far behind regional peace leaders like New Zealand (1.28), Singapore (1.36), and Japan (1.44)—all of which are in the top 10 globally.
Other Asia-Pacific countries that ranked ahead of the Philippines include Malaysia (1.51), Australia (1.57), Mongolia and Vietnam (1.72), Taiwan (1.73), and South Korea (1.74).
The Philippines outperformed only a handful of regional peers: Papua New Guinea (2.23), North Korea (2.91), and Myanmar (3.05)—the latter placing 153rd globally.
The report also highlights the Philippines’ historical performance in the GPI over the years. From a ranking of 87th in 2017, the country had slid to 137th by 2018, and hovered above the 120th mark for several years. This year’s 105th position marks a recovery from its 125th placement in 2024.
Globally, Iceland retained its spot as the most peaceful country in the world, followed by Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland. On the opposite end, Yemen, South Sudan, and Syria remained the least peaceful nations.
The GPI is widely regarded as a leading measure of global peace, taking into account both internal and external conflict, levels of crime, terrorism impact, and military expenditure.
