Costa Rica rose in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) in June of this year. Our country ranked 54th in the world, with an overall score of 1.84 on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is the highest level of peace.
In the Americas, Costa Rica reached fourth place, behind only Canada, Argentina, and Uruguay. Internationally, it is among the group of countries with a “high” level of peace, although it faces challenges related to crime and violence. This represents an increase from the previous year, when it ranked 58th in the world, with an overall score of 1.95 and a state of peace classified as medium.
The report evaluates 163 nations based on 23 indicators encompassed in three main areas: level of security and social protection; scope of ongoing internal and international conflicts; and degree of militarization.
Excels in all criteria
Costa Rica excels in criteria such as intensity of internal conflict, political instability, impact of terrorism, deaths from internal or external conflicts, and involvement in international wars, in which it obtained a score of 1.
In the area of ​​ongoing national and international conflicts, in which it obtained the same result, our country reached 22nd place worldwide, even above territories such as Denmark and Canada.
Likewise, the results on militarization issues were favorable. In criteria such as military spending, size of the armed forces, arms exports and imports, and possession of heavy or nuclear weapons, it also obtained a score of 1.
However, the data reveal areas of concern regarding citizen security. The perception of crime reached 3.25 points; the homicide rate 4.77; and violent crime and access to small arms both increased by 4 points.
Compared to 2024, these indicators showed slight variations: the perception of crime was 3.55, the homicide rate 4.29, violent crime 3.5, and access to weapons remained unchanged at 4. These results place social violence as one of the main challenges for the country.
Costa Rica closed 2024 with 880 homicides, according to the OIJ (Institutional Judicial Organization), the second most violent year in its history. By June of this year, the country had already recorded 412 murders.
Global outlook not very encouraging
The global outlook is not very encouraging either, warns the IEP. There are currently 59 active state conflicts, the highest number since the end of World War II, with 152 deaths related to armed conflict in 2024, according to the report. The conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine stand out, with 162,000 battle deaths in 2023 alone, one of the highest figures in decades.
Similarly, militarization recorded its worst annual decline since the index was compiled in 2008, with 108 countries increasing their military capabilities. Other worrying data include the fact that 110 million people are currently living as refugees or internally displaced persons due to violent conflict, and in 16 countries the number of refugees now exceeds half a million. Regionally, North America experienced the greatest decline, mainly due to the increase in violent crime and public fear of becoming a victim of crime.
