The United States has been ranked 128th out of 163 countries in the 2025 Global Peace Index, placing it behind nations such as Kenya and South Africa. The ranking reflects deteriorating peace in the U.S., driven by rising violent crime—including mass shootings—widespread political polarisation, and significant military involvement both at home and abroad.
The Global Peace Index evaluates countries across three major domains: societal safety and security, internal and external conflict, and the degree of militarisation. The U.S. performance this year was weakened particularly in the metrics related to civilian gun violence, institutional stability, and military expenditure.
Experts point out that while the U.S. remains a major economic and military power, its internal indicators of peace are troubling. The ranking suggests that Americans face a diminishing standard of safety compared to many other nations—and that the country’s global influence does not always correlate with domestic tranquillity.
Many observers believe reversing this trend would require meaningful reforms in gun control, stronger community safety initiatives, reduction of internal divisions, and a recalibration of the country’s defence posture. The 2025 results serve as both a warning and an opportunity: if the U.S. wants to improve its global peace standing, domestic challenges must be addressed with urgency.
