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Topic 10 of 18 · Country Index 2026

India: Peace & Security

Is a country at peace, and how heavily armed is it?

India is placed joint 140th of 177 countries on peace & security in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Political Stability and Absence of Violence -0.608 (2025); Physical Violence Index 0.511 (2025).

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Peace & Security

joint140th

of 177 countries placed

Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics82nd of 183 →

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place India 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.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 4

    Political Stability and Absence of Violence

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    -0.608

    Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)

    Higher is better

    India: -0.608. 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 Southern Asia
    1.393 Bhutan
    Land neighbours
    Bangladesh -0.941 · Bhutan 1.393 · China 0.022 · Myanmar -2.116 · Nepal -0.443 · Pakistan -1.951

  2. Key 2 of 4

    Physical Violence Index

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    0.511

    Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)

    Higher is better

    India: 0.511. 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 Southern Asia
    0.893 Maldives
    Land neighbours
    Bangladesh 0.582 · Bhutan 0.834 · China 0.345 · Myanmar 0.099 · Nepal 0.706 · Pakistan 0.364

  3. Key 3 of 4

    Political Violence by Non-State Actors

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    1.265

    Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence

    Lower is better

    India: 1.265. 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 Southern Asia
    -1.511 Sri Lanka
    Land neighbours
    Bangladesh 2.31 · Bhutan -1.068 · China -0.506 · Myanmar 3.375 · Nepal -0.663 · Pakistan 1.616

  4. Key 4 of 4

    Global Militarisation Index

    Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC)

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY

    97.92

    GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)

    Lower is better

    Ranked 78th of 149 by BICC

    India: 97.92. 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 Southern Asia
    66.74 Bangladesh
    Land neighbours
    Bangladesh 66.74 · China 81.83 · Myanmar 135.84 · Nepal 71.05 · Pakistan 132.99

03In context

India 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.

Southern Asia
1st177thNot placed · 47 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on peace & security

India and the countries it borders

Standing among all 177; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingPolitical 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 violenceGlobal Militarisation IndexGMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
Bhutan28th1.3930.834-1.068—
Nepalcompare88th-0.4430.706-0.66371.05
Chinacompare102nd0.0220.345-0.50681.83
Bangladeshcompare130th-0.9410.5822.3166.74
India=140th-0.6080.5111.26597.92
Pakistancompare168th-1.9510.3641.616132.99
Myanmar175th-2.1160.0993.375135.84

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Across Southern Asia

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 177.

Placed either side on peace & security

The countries immediately above and below India in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where India is ahead of the world, and behind

11 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.

Every country

Ahead of the world median2

Statistics on which India does better than the middle country measured.

  • Armed Forces Personnel (% of population)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.260.11No real change since 2009

    India: 0.11 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2019 dataset

  • Government Cyber Security CapacityV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.1961.008▼ Worsened since 2015

    India: 1.008 · world median 0.196 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.66 to 3.715; higher is better.

    Position 44th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Behind the world median6

Statistics on which India does worse than the middle country measured.

  • State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.395▲ Improved since 2015

    India: 95 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Military Dimension IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.10.143▼ Worsened since 2015

    India: 0.143 · world median 0.1 · Military dimension index (0–1; higher = larger military role). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • INFORM Risk IndexEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · 2025 · world median 3.75.3▲ Improved since 2016

    India: 5.3 · 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 46th of 191 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Civilian Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 0112▲ Improved since 2015

    India: 112 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 0623No real change since 2015

    India: 623 · 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 22nd of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Deaths in State-Based Armed ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 0540No real change since 2015

    India: 540 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Level with the median, or no median to compare1

  • Deaths in Non-State ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 00No real change since 2015

    India: 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

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.

  • Refugees by Country of OriginUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,27242,610Moved since 2015

    India: 42,610 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Arms Imports (% of total imports)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.30.7Moved since 2009

    India: 0.7 · 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2019 dataset

No current reading for India

Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR. 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 India’s 15 topics

Peace & Security is India’s 13th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Digital & Technology5th of 198
  2. Mobility & Trade15th of 177
  3. Education & Knowledge44th of 198
  4. Poverty & Inequalityjoint 44th of 159
  5. Governance & Institutions73rd of 194
  6. Environment & Sustainability85th of 186
  7. Economy & Innovation86th of 176
  8. Work & Labourjoint 99th of 182
  9. Development & Human Capital114th of 196
  10. Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 119th of 198
  11. Food & Agriculture111th of 184
  12. Health & Wellbeing150th of 200
  13. Peace & Securityjoint 140th of 177
  14. Gender & Equality154th of 183
  15. Risk & Resilience182nd of 193

No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.

06The top of the list

Who leads on peace & security

The three countries placed highest of 177, and the leaders India can most readily be measured against.

All 177 countries
  1. 1

    Iceland

    Northern Europe

    1st of 177 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Costa Rica

    Central America

    2nd of 177 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA · CC BY 2.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Malta

    Southern Europe

    3rd of 177 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Asia

    Taiwan=7th3/4 keys

  2. Highest in Southern Asia

    Bhutan28th3/4 keys

  3. This page

    India=140th4/4 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 India and peace & security

All charts

08Questions

India 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 India rank on peace & security?

India is placed joint 140th of 177 countries on Peace & Security in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Political Stability and Absence of Violence, Physical Violence Index, Political Violence by Non-State Actors 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 India?

-0.608 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 Physical Violence Index figure for India?

0.511 in 2025 (freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)), according to V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. The world median in the same edition was 0.79.

How does India compare with China on peace & security?

China is placed 102nd of 177, and India joint 140th. Political Stability and Absence of Violence: China 0.022, India -0.608; Physical Violence Index: China 0.345, India 0.511; Political Violence by Non-State Actors: China -0.506, India 1.265; Global Militarisation Index: China 81.83, India 97.92.

How have India’s peace & security figures changed?

Political Stability and Absence of Violence rose from -0.95 in 2000 to -0.608 in 2025; Physical Violence Index fell from 0.764 in 2000 to 0.511 in 2025; Political Violence by Non-State Actors fell from 1.303 in 2000 to 1.265 in 2025; Global Militarisation Index fell from 99.18 in 2000 to 97.92 in 2023.

Which peace & security statistics are missing for India?

No current reading is published for India on Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR. 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.

About peace & security, in full

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

The other 11 statistics on this page come from 5 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

India’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). India: Peace & Security — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/india/security

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