Ghana has fallen six places in the 2025 Global Peace Index, casting doubt on its long-held image as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.
The 2025 report by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) places Ghana 61st worldwide and 7th in Sub-Saharan Africa. The shift means Ghana has been overtaken by several of its regional peers.
Mauritius continues to lead the continent at 26th globally, while Botswana (43rd), Namibia (50th), The Gambia (55th), Sierra Leone (57th), and Madagascar (59th) all rank ahead of Ghana.
The decline is part of a continuing downward trend. In 2024, Ghana placed 55th globally and 4th in Africa, following a ranking of 51st in 2023. Just four years ago, in 2021, Ghana was 38th demonstrating a steady slide in the country’s peace standing. Analysts say the trend points to rising domestic pressures.
The index measures factors such as political instability, crime rates, and internal security challenges. Ghana’s trajectory is also part of a wider regional pattern. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, the 2025 GPI recorded a collective drop of 0.17% in peace scores.
Globally, the outlook is no better: the report concludes that peace has deteriorated to its lowest level since the index was launched in 2008.
