Only 36 countries are less peaceful than Kenya, according to a recent report ranking the most peaceful nations globally.
The 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks Kenya in position 127 out of 163, placing it among the least peaceful nations in the world.
The data took into account three domains to measure safety and security: level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarisation.
Based on these metrics, Kenya dropped from position 117 in 2023 to 126 in 2024 and then to 127 in 2025. This effectively places it among the bottom 40 countries experiencing deteriorating peace levels.
The annual report also indicated a continued global decline in peacefulness for the sixth consecutive year, with Kenya's slip to position 127 being viewed as part of a broader regional trend of unrest, economic strain and governance struggles.
Kenya's overall peace score deteriorated to 2.292, a figure which marked a 0.047-point drop from the previous year. This decline was largely attributed to a series of protests, which have all turned violent due clashes between protesters and law-enforcement agencies.
In the latest wave of protests, on July 7, at least 40 people were confirmed dead, while hundreds of others sustained injuries. The protests have since attracted the attention of the international community, with an envoy of diplomats urging the government to find a lasting solution to end the stalemate with its citizens.
Regionally, Kenya has a considerably weaker standing in the peace index compared to her East African neighbours. Tanzania is ranked 73rd globally with a score of 1.965, making it the most peaceful country in the region.
Rwanda follows closely at position 91 (2.036), while Uganda and Djibouti are placed at 113 (2.217) and 122 (2.276), respectively.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritius is the most peaceful country, with Kenya ranked 31 out of 44 Sub-Saharan countries in terms of peace.
Interestingly, Kenya’s closest regional competitors in peacefulness are countries plagued with conflict and instability, as the country ranks close to Eritrea (132), Burundi (133), and Ethiopia (138).
Kenya is also only marginally peaceful than countries whose political standing is very volatile, including the Central African Republic, Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DRC is ranked the least peaceful country in Sub-Saharan Africa and globally, it ranks at position 160.
From a global perspective, the report highlights that currently, there are 59 active State-based conflicts globally, which marks the highest number since the end of World War II.
As far as the most peaceful country is concerned, Iceland retains its title for the 17th year in a row in a run that dates back to 2008.
Russia, meanwhile, was ranked the least peaceful country in the world for the first time since the studies began.
