Jamaica Ranked as North and Central America’s Third Most Peaceful Country

Jamaica has been named the third most peaceful country in North and Central America in the 2026 Global Peace Index, behind only Canada and Costa Rica. 

The study found that the region’s overall level of peacefulness fell by two per cent during the past year, with 10 of the 14 countries assessed recording weaker performances.

According to the report, deteriorating conditions in ongoing conflicts were the biggest contributor to the decline, while safety and security also worsened. Militarisation was the only category to show improvement.

Jamaica earned an overall score of 1.919 to finish third in the regional standings. Canada retained the top spot with a score of 1.525 and also ranked 14th worldwide, while Costa Rica placed second regionally with 1.860.

Trinidad and Tobago and Panama rounded out the regional top five after recording scores of 1.959 and 1.976, respectively.

The rankings placed Jamaica ahead of Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, El Salvador, the United States, Mexico and Haiti.

The findings also pointed to a continuing decline in global peace, with the average level of peacefulness slipping by 0.7 per cent over the previous year. It marked the 15th deterioration in the last 18 years and extended the current run of annual declines to 12 consecutive years.

Researchers reported that 99 countries became less peaceful over the past year, while only 62 improved. They also noted that 119 countries now score worse than they did when the index was first introduced in 2008.

The report highlighted several conflicts that continue to shape the global security landscape, including prolonged wars in Sudan, Ukraine and Myanmar. It also pointed to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a four-day military confrontation described as the most significant between the two nuclear powers since 1971.

Military spending worldwide reached another record high after increasing for a 10th straight year, while the global number of forcibly displaced people remained above 117 million, according to the report.

Within the region, Haiti remained the lowest-ranked country after its score declined by three per cent. The report linked the deterioration to escalating gang violence spreading beyond the capital and said all three peace measurement categories worsened.

The United States also recorded a notable setback, dropping to 134th globally and 12th within North and Central America following a four per cent deterioration that was attributed to increasing political instability, violent demonstrations and political violence. Mexico and Honduras registered the region’s largest percentage improvements, each improving by two per cent, although Mexico remained the region’s second least peaceful country.

The Global Peace Index, produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace, measures 163 countries using 23 indicators covering safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation.

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