Photo: Josh Steinitz · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 10 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Belize: Peace & Security
Is a country at peace, and how heavily armed is it?
Belize is placed 11th of 177 countries on peace & security in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Political Stability and Absence of Violence 0.81 (2025); Global Militarisation Index 53.52 (2023).
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Peace & Security
11th
of 177 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 0.81Political Stability and Absence of Violence, 2025Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
- —Physical Violence Index, 2025No reading for this country
- —Political Violence by Non-State Actors, 2025No reading for this country
- 53.52Global Militarisation Index, 2023GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Belize on peace & security — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Political Stability and Absence of Violence
World Bank Group
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
0.81
Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Higher is better
Belize: 0.81. Across the 211 countries in this edition, values run from -2.506 (Yemen) to 1.563 (Andorra); the world median is 0.171.
- World median
- 0.171
- Best in Central America
- 1.223 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala -0.213 · Mexico -0.608
Key 2 of 4
Physical Violence Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)
Higher is better
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg publishes no 2025 figure for Belize, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.053 (North Korea) to 0.989 (Sweden); the world median is 0.79.
- World median
- 0.79
- Best in Central America
- 0.964 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 0.721 · Mexico 0.489
Key 3 of 4
Political Violence by Non-State Actors
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence
Lower is better
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg publishes no 2025 figure for Belize, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 171 countries in this edition, values run from -3.182 (Luxembourg) to 3.375 (Myanmar); the world median is -0.661.
- World median
- -0.661
- Best in Central America
- -2.391 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 0.461 · Mexico 2.03
Key 4 of 4
Global Militarisation Index
Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY
53.52
GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
Lower is better
Ranked 136th of 149 by BICC
Belize: 53.52. Across the 149 countries in this edition, values run from 3.512 (Haiti) to 351.09 (Ukraine); the world median is 100.66.
- World median
- 100.66
- Best in Central America
- 42.6 Guatemala
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 42.6 · Mexico 51.82
02Over time
Which way Belize is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Political Stability and Absence of Violence
Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5) · higher is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 0.086 in 2000 to 0.81 in 2025; the world median went from -0.021 to 0.171.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2025 0.8095 0.1706 2024 0.7822 0.1385 2023 0.7820 0.1269 2022 0.7240 0.0991 2021 0.3409 0.0836 2020 0.5849 0.0582 2019 0.1164 0.0678 2018 0.0198 0.1121 2017 0.0177 0.0177 2016 0.0176 -0.0161 2015 0.0179 0.0464 2014 0.0193 0.0366 2013 0.0711 -0.0060 2012 0.0706 0.0470 2011 0.0719 -0.0034 2010 0.0032 0.0100 2009 -0.0304 0.1579 2008 0.1165 0.0744 2007 0.1339 0.1154 2006 0.0562 0.0812 2005 0.0308 0.0308 2004 0.2893 -0.0307 2003 0.3600 0.0683 2002 0.3288 -0.0154 2000 0.0858 -0.0212 Global Militarisation Index
GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight) · lower is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 49.22 in 2000 to 53.52 in 2023; the world median went from 120.02 to 100.66.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2023 53.52 100.7 2022 53.34 100.9 2021 60.07 102.9 2020 63.94 104.4 2019 55.44 101.6 2018 55.61 98.1 2017 55.76 101.3 2016 53.77 102.0 2015 47.32 105.7 2014 48.22 103.0 2013 47.39 108.5 2012 45.55 109.5 2011 50.36 112.0 2010 52.16 114.8 2009 56.00 117.0 2008 45.49 114.4 2007 37.85 117.1 2006 38.53 116.5 2005 50.04 113.9 2004 48.79 113.6 2003 48.15 117.9 2002 47.64 120.1 2001 48.23 122.0 2000 49.22 120.0
03In context
Belize beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 177 countries on peace & security, never a place within the region.
Belize and the countries it borders
Standing among all 177; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Political Stability and Absence of ViolencePolitical Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5) | Physical Violence IndexFreedom from political killings and torture (0–1) | Political Violence by Non-State ActorsOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence | Global Militarisation IndexGMI score (higher means a heavier military weight) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | 11th | 0.81 | — | — | 53.52 |
 Guatemala | 85th | -0.213 | 0.721 | 0.461 | 42.6 |
 Mexico | =117th | -0.608 | 0.489 | 2.03 | 51.82 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 177.
Placed either side on peace & security
The countries immediately above and below Belize in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Belize is ahead of the world, and behind
8 more statistics filed under peace & security, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Belize does worse than the middle country measured.
INFORM Risk IndexEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · 2025 · world median 3.73.83.7▼ Worsened since 2016
Belize: 3.8 · world median 3.7 · INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk). European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 8.5; lower is better.
Position 90th of 191 · derived, 1st = worst.
Armed Forces Personnel (% of population)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.260.340.26▼ Worsened since 2009
Belize: 0.34 · world median 0.26 · Active-duty armed forces personnel (% of population). U.S. Department of State, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.04 to 4.6; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare4
Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Belize: 0 · world median 0 · Deaths in organized violence (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 90,345; lower is better.
Position 59th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Civilian Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Belize: 0 · world median 0 · Civilians killed in organized violence (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 65,911; lower is better.
Deaths in State-Based Armed ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Belize: 0 · world median 0 · Deaths in state-based armed conflict (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 90,323; lower is better.
Deaths in Non-State ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Belize: 0 · world median 0 · Deaths in non-state conflict (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 7,827; lower is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Arms Imports (% of total imports)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.30.20.3Moved since 2009
Belize: 0.2 · world median 0.3 · Arms imports (% of all imports of goods and services). U.S. Department of State, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.
Refugees by Country of OriginUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,2721081,272Moved since 2015
Belize: 108 · world median 1,272 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5,224,131.
No current reading for Belize
Government Cyber Security Capacity, Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR, Military Dimension Index, Physical Violence Index, Political Violence by Non-State Actors and State Authority over Territory. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Peace & Security among Belize’s 16 topics
Peace & Security is Belize’s best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security11th of 1772/4 keys
- Energy21st of 1652/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability48th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 56th of 1833/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation76th of 1763/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing92nd of 2004/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality75th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties101st of 1983/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience110th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions111th of 1943/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture109th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital120th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 134th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology148th of 1983/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 152nd of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade152nd of 1773/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on peace & security
The three countries placed highest of 177, and the leaders Belize can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 177 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
Costa RicaCentral America
2nd of 177 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
3
MaltaSouthern Europe
3rd of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Costa Rica2nd3/4 keysThis page
Belize11th2/4 keys
Positions out of 177 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Belize and peace & security
08Questions
Belize on peace & security: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Belize rank on peace & security?
Belize is placed 11th of 177 countries on Peace & Security in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Political Stability and Absence of Violence and Global Militarisation Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Political Stability and Absence of Violence figure for Belize?
0.81 in 2025 (political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.171.
What is the latest Global Militarisation Index figure for Belize?
53.52 in 2023 (gMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)), according to Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC). The world median in the same edition was 100.66.
How does Belize compare with Mexico on peace & security?
Mexico is placed joint 117th of 177, and Belize 11th. Political Stability and Absence of Violence: Mexico -0.608, Belize 0.81; Global Militarisation Index: Mexico 51.82, Belize 53.52.
How have Belize’s peace & security figures changed?
Political Stability and Absence of Violence rose from 0.086 in 2000 to 0.81 in 2025; Global Militarisation Index rose from 49.22 in 2000 to 53.52 in 2023.
Which peace & security statistics are missing for Belize?
No current reading is published for Belize on Government Cyber Security Capacity, Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR, Military Dimension Index, Physical Violence Index, Political Violence by Non-State Actors and State Authority over Territory. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Deaths in armed conflict and violent deaths per person are published here as context, because the counts are uneven between years and between sources. Crime in daily life and personal safety are not covered. Humanitarian crises driven by conflict appear in Risk & Resilience.
How the Peace & Security standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The peace & security method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Political Stability and Absence of Violence — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Physical Violence Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Political Violence by Non-State Actors — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Global Militarisation Index — Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), CC BY
The other 8 statistics on this page come from 4 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Belize’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Belize (banner) — Josh Steinitz, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Costa Rica — Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Malta — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Belize: Peace & Security — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/belize/security