Ghana has dropped six spots to 61st place in the 2025 Global Peace Index, marking its lowest ranking in over a decade and signaling a continued decline in domestic stability, according to a report released this month by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
The West African nation also fell out of the top five most peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time in recent memory, now ranking seventh in the region. Ghana trails behind Mauritius (26th globally), Botswana (43rd), Namibia (50th), The Gambia (55th), Sierra Leone (57th), and Madagascar (59th).
The latest figures continue a downward trajectory for Ghana, which ranked 55th globally in 2024 and 51st in 2023. In 2021, it stood at 38th—highlighting a steady erosion in the country's peace metrics over the past five years.
The Global Peace Index, which assesses 163 nations on measures ranging from political stability to levels of violence and crime, recorded its worst global reading since its inception in 2008. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, saw a modest average deterioration of 0.17% in 2025, driven by growing conflict rates and political unrest in several states.
Analysts say Ghana’s slippage reflects a broader regional pattern but also underscores rising internal pressures, including political polarization, sporadic communal violence, and economic headwinds that may be contributing to public discontent.
Despite the slide, Ghana remains one of the more stable democracies in West Africa. However, its declining peace score raises concerns ahead of the country’s 2026 general elections.
