South Africa 123rd 'most peaceful' country in world

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is the 123rd most peaceful country in the world. This is according to the Global Peace Index which has just published its 2009 rankings of the 144 countries it surveyed. Of the 31 countries surveyed in Africa South Africa came in at number 21.

According to the GPI results report South Africa was one of the "top five fallers" this year. In 2008 South Africa was ranked the 116th most peaceful country of the 140 surveyed, down from 99 (out of 121) in 2007. This fall was largely attributable to the xenophobic violence that swept through Gauteng in May 2008. The report states:

"In the GPI, this is reflected in rises in two indicators: a two-point climb in the measure of the level of internal conflict and an increase in perceived criminality (to 4 on a scale of 1-5). The homicide rate and the level of violent crime are both accorded the highest possible scores, unchanged from last year, although they are counterbalanced by relatively low scores for measures of militarization, with the exception of military capability and sophistication."

The full ranking follows below:

Rank	Country	Score
1	New Zealand	1.202
2	Denmark	1.217
3	Norway	1.217
4	Iceland	1.225
5	Austria	1.252
6	Sweden	1.269
7	Japan	1.272
8	Canada	1.311
9	Finland	1.322
10	Slovenia	1.322
11	Czech Republic	1.382
12	Ireland	1.333
13	Luxembourg	1.341
14	Portugal	1.341
15	Belgium	1.359
16	Germany	1.392
17	Qatar	1.392
18	Switzerland	1.393
19	Australia	1.476
20	Chile	1.481
21	Oman	1.52
22	Netherlands	1.531
23	Singapore	1.533
24	Slovakia	1.539
25	Uruguay	1.557
26	Malaysia	1.561
27	Hungary	1.575
28	Spain	1.577
29	Costa Rica	1.578
30	France	1.579
31	Romania	1.591
32	Poland	1.599
33	South Korea	1.627
34	Botswana	1.643
35	United Kingdom	1.647
36	Italy	1.648
37	Taiwan	1.652
38	Estonia	1.661
39	Vietnam	1.664
40	Bhutan	1.667
41	United Arab Emirates	1.667
42	Kuwait	1.68
43	Lithuania	1.687
44	Tunisia	1.698
45	Laos	1.701
46	Libya	1.71
47	Malawi	1.711
48	Cyprus	1.737
49	Croatia	1.741
50	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1.755
51	Gabon	1.758
52	Ghana	1.761
53	Mozambique	1.765
54	Egypt	1.773
55	Latvia	1.773
56	Bulgaria	1.775
57	Greece	1.778
58	Zambia	1.779
59	Panama	1.798
60	Tanzania	1.798
61	Equatorial Guinea	1.801
62	Nicaragua	1.801
63	Morocco	1.811
64	Jordan	1.832
65	Namibia	1.841
66	Argentina	1.851
67	Indonesia	1.853
68	Cuba	1.856
69	Bahrain	1.881
70	Dominican Republic	1.89
71	Burkina Faso	1.905
72	Madagascar	1.912
73	Paraguay	1.916
74	China	1.921
75	Moldova	1.925
76	Albania	1.925
77	Nepal	1.939
78	Serbia	1.951
79	Peru	1.972
80	Senegal	1.984
81	Bolivia	1.99
82	Ukraine	2.01
83	United States of America	2.015
84	Kazakhstan	2.018
85	Brazil	2.022
86	Rwanda	2.027
87	Trinidad and Tobago	2.035
88	Macedonia	2.039
89	Mongolia	2.04
90	Bangladesh	2.045
91	Montenegro	2.046
92	Syria	2.049
93	Papua New Guinea	2.059
94	ElSalvador	2.068
95	Cameroon	2.073
96	Mali	2.086
97	Guyana	2.098
98	Belarus	2.103
99	Iran	2.104
100	Angola	2.105
101	Turkmenistan	2.11
102	Jamaica	2.111
103	Uganda	2.14
104	Saudi Arabia	2.167
105	Cambodia	2.179
106	Congo (Brazzaville)	2.202
107	Uzbekistan	2.202
108	Mexico	2.209
109	Ecuador	2.211
110	Algeria	2.212
111	Guatemala	2.218
112	Honduras	2.265
113	Kenya	2.266
114	Azerbaijan	2.327
115	Philippines	2.327
116	Haiti	2.33
117	Coted'Ivoire	2.342
118	Thailand	2.353
119	Yemen	2.363
120	Venezuela	2.381
121	Turkey	2.389
122	India	2.422
123	South Africa	2.437
124	Mauritania	2.478
125	Sri Lanka	2.485
126	Myanmar	2.501
127	Burundi	2.529
128	Ethiopia	2.551
129	Nigeria	2.602
130	Colombia	2.645
131	North Korea	2.717
132	Lebanon	2.718
133	Central African Republic	2.733
134	Georgia	2.736
135	Zimbabwe	2.736
136	Russia	2.75
137	Pakistan	2.859
138	Chad	2.88
139	DR of the Congo	2.888
140	Sudan	2.922
141	Israel	3.035
142	Somalia	3.527
143	Afghanistan	3.285
144	Iraq	3.341

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responses to this article

Oh the humiliation In the bottom 15% along with Zimbabwe, North Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. The main countries South Africans are emigrating to are all in the top 35 countries or the top 25%. Let's not kid ourselves here. When we are that low . .more down you are no longer "peaceful". We are actually the 22nd most "violent " country in the world. Over to you Zuma, what are you going to do about it. This happened on the ANC watch. And here's a tip, if you think street committees are the solution then I think you are seriously misguided. I fear that route will only edge us nearer to the bottom of the list. Good effective policing, effective non political courts, and strong moral non corrupt leadership are the only solution. I will listen to your speech later today with interest to see what you have in mind. . .less by Sad days on June 03 2009, 02:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

It was expected With crime still the main factor in the lives of ordinary South Africans, one is not surprised that we were in the same category as Sri Lanka, Burundi and the dictatorship controlled, Myanmar. The ANC government has failed miserably when it comes to this . .more issue and the status quo doesnt seem to be getting any better. . .less by WTF on June 03 2009, 05:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

And Mbeki said.... According to Mbeki the crime in South Africa is percieved crime and not real so we don't have anything to worry about right? I doubt that Zuma will do something about it and once again we carry on as if nothing is wrong or as one minister said: If you . .more don't like it then leave! . .less by JvR on June 03 2009, 06:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

World champs at polls for WORST CROWNS ! We will get to 144 and soon. Job losses, eager cheaper labour, in a recession, by Zims with permits ! Xenophobia WILL explode in our BRUTAL, violent, society and this winter of discontent. The Military may yet be used for CRIME. by old, female, paleface on June 03 2009, 08:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Oh dearie me. Yes Thabo there certainly is no problem in SA...and never was either....lolol. Now where is my poetry book ?....Let me read that, lest I falleth into the pit of colonialist conspiracies that seeketh to undermine the true successes of Africa. lolol Ubuntu . .more lives for sure. . .less by Dave on June 03 2009, 08:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

This is almost the same percentage of the Math Matric Passes LOL... Why leave when we can milk the poor, steal money from the rich, and send our gangs into peoples home to "cleans" this country from the colonial invasion.... That index was done by the colonials..... I dont put any faith in . .more it... What do they know.... What crime? Crime is a perception of the fearfull and weak.... :P JZ forever.... btw... Im being sar-castic for those who dont understand... . .less by unknown on June 03 2009, 09:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Improved ??? I wonder where these self serving agencies placed South Africa pre '94 ? by Zakhele on June 03 2009, 10:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

South Africa 123rd 'most peaceful' country in world It is very stupid to blame this on ANC or Zuma .The damn article is about peaceful evaluations amongst counties .Of course we do need to live in a peaceful land and we should always try our best to improve our mindsets and our actions because i believe . .more that's where everything should start prior to improve .Come on people It is not Thabo Mbeki's ,Zuma's and ANC fault which resulted to #123rd and its not only up to the Govenment to improve this results but it also includes me and you to make it better .xenophobic violence is the only violence which happened in ANC's govenment times.t what about violences which happend in PW Botha's ,FW De Klerk's and Verwoed's governances ! Please stop shift blames to ANC . TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE! . .less by MVPKN on June 03 2009, 10:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Where is Domza and his friends? Just another conspiracy to undermine the fantastic ANC achievements? Why not strick our heads in the ground until there is something positive to report? by Albie on June 03 2009, 10:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Seeking and finding greener pastures is not a crime I wish, that the main perpetrators of the Xenophobia last year would realize that the foreigners in our country is not the problem, but the problem is the ANC and their failed policies which allow these foreigners to easily enter our countries borders. . .more The fact is the new Zuma policy of allowing Zimbabweans access to the country will only add to the problem. Now more South Africans will struggle to find a job because cheap Zimbabwean labour are available everywhere. Do you think the slumbering South African masses realize that even if these foreigners get paid much less than us, it is still a bargain for them because if you convert our currency back to their home currency (where their money is going to support their relatives) which is in tatters, they end up having more not less? Do you think if these voters start to realize this it may sway the vote of these slumbering South African masses? . .less by Realist on June 03 2009, 11:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

crock Please, What a crock :on this basis people should move from the USA (number 83) to either Egypt or Ghana - any of you people going to make that move - I think not ! I would also love to see anyone from South Africa living in countires 2 -15..... by Jack Coetzee on June 03 2009, 11:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

South African whites must be amused by this rating Most of this rating is based on the perception of crime. Who gave Africans dull education so that they become nothing in this world. Who is spreading this perception of crime garbage. It was interesting to hear that White South Africans are . .more considered the number racist nation accross the world. I wish this could be measured as well. White RSA's are interested in nothing at all other seeing the black man ruling this country to the ground. I am sure that is what they hope for and pray for to see every Black man killed by HIV/AIds. Hence Godzille's comment about JZ to the amusement of her fellow racist Whites. . .less by Zille's Sister on June 03 2009, 12:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Good question "Zille's Sister" "Who gave Africans dull education" you ask ... Well if they are younger than 20, that would be the ANC. If they are younger than 25, then their high school years would have been courtesy of the ANC. If they are 30 years then . .more they were ordered by the ANC in their early teens not to go to school as liberation was considered more important than education, so the ANC take the credit again. Most criminals are under 30. Maybe it is time to stop blaming others and start taking self responsibility if we are to move forward. . .less by Sad days on June 03 2009, 13:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Jack Coetzee for your info I am living in the country that came 5th. And I am not alone. Lotsa South Africans in this neck of the woods as a matter of fact. by Mischa on June 03 2009, 14:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@MVPKN You are right. The fact that billions have been squandered by ANC cadres (SABC, Landbank, Sarafina, RDP, Arms Deal, enatis etc etc etc) is not one of the reasons to blame them for not helping alleviate poverty and reduce crime. Also it is not . .more the ANC's fault that their cadres in the police and general govement departments are not up too scratch and lets not talk about the Selebi's and Manto's and Buthelezi's etc etc etc. Blame it on white people from the west, those evil racist bastards. They are to blame for everything. . .less by J on June 03 2009, 14:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SHAME POOR SOUTH AFRICAN SOULS South Africa should be on the bottom and out of sight. Its not only the crime its the frame of mind of south africans. South Africa has too many social problems to go up the list. The culture and mentality cannot be changed . .more overnight It would take a thousand years The honest truth is its a living HELL!!!!!!! . .less by Letstasti on June 03 2009, 14:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sudan, Pakistan, ZIM and Lebanon more peaceful places than Israel?? :---))))))))))): by Agnostic Liberal on June 03 2009, 16:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Whatever Same old propaganda.... by Proud South African on June 03 2009, 16:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Zille's sister-wannabee Many saffers see this country going down the tubes, regardless of colour. Who gave Africans 'dull education'?? ... why, the ANC ... have you been asleep for the past 15 years? by Saffer on June 03 2009, 18:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

15 yrs. Black Middle Class! Black Diamonds! That is what the ANC did for the last 15 yrs. You would not take your kids to the township schools before 1994. Dull education started long prior 1994. by Zille's Sister on June 03 2009, 20:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Too kind to place SA number 123 BECAUSE.... A child is raped every 3minutes A women is raped every 3 minutes 20000 people are murdered/killed every year Lawless society with different laws in the black townships Corrupt Law enforcement officials Abusive law . .more enforcement White/Black racists Racist lawyers/advocates/judges Politicans on a gravy train Its the most violent country in the universe . .less by mj on June 03 2009, 21:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

One of THE most unstable countries of the Universe Even worse than Uganda/Botswana It cannot be fixed by Poor South African on June 03 2009, 21:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

cannot be fixed Its what black africans do best , grass roots level , its the african way . Can not do the job in hand , its only job as they say , i have job . god help SA . by Dilligaf on June 07 2009, 23:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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