South Africa is the 99th most peaceful country of 121 throughout the world, according to a global peace index compiled by the intelligence unit of the Economist, it was announced in a statement from London on Wednesday.
South Africa was ranked the 14th most peaceful of 21 African states — behind those at the top of the list such as Ghana, Madagascar and Botswana, but ahead of Ethiopia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and bottom-placed Sudan, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.
The world index was topped by Norway, with Japan in fifth place, Canada eighth, Germany 12th, Italy 33rd, France 34th and the United Kingdom 49th.
The United States was ranked the 96th most internally and externally peaceful nation and Russia the 118th.
According to the statement, the index was commissioned by Australian IT entrepreneur and philanthropist Steve Killelea, who founded the Charitable Foundation in 2000.
”I believe there is a link between the peacefulness and the wealth of nations and therefore business has a key role to play in peace,” he said.
”Countries like Japan and Germany can give hope and optimism to countries further down the index that there can be light at the end of what may seem at the moment like a very dark tunnel.”
The finding that small, stable and democratic countries were the most at peace was a wake-up call for leaders around the globe, Killelea said.
”Countries need to become more peaceful to solve the major challenges that the world faces — from climate change to decreasing biodiversity.
”There is also a strong case for the world becoming more peaceful and it is now crucial for world leaders and business to take a lead,” he said. — Sapa