Photo: eGuide Travel · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 10 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Papua New Guinea: Peace & Security
Is a country at peace, and how heavily armed is it?
Papua New Guinea is placed 81st 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 -0.546 (2025); Physical Violence Index 0.782 (2025).
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Peace & Security
81st
of 177 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- -0.546Political Stability and Absence of Violence, 2025Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
- 0.782Physical Violence Index, 2025Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)
- -0.328Political Violence by Non-State Actors, 2025Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence
- 34.09Global Militarisation Index, 2023GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Papua New Guinea 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
-0.546
Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Higher is better
Papua New Guinea: -0.546. 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 Melanesia
- 0.982 Fiji
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia -0.739
Key 2 of 4
Physical Violence Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.782
Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)
Higher is better
Papua New Guinea: 0.782. 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 Melanesia
- 0.926 Vanuatu
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 0.636
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
-0.328
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence
Lower is better
Papua New Guinea: -0.328. 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 Melanesia
- -1.815 Fiji
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia -0.328
Key 4 of 4
Global Militarisation Index
Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY
34.09
GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
Lower is better
Ranked 145th of 149 by BICC
Papua New Guinea: 34.09. 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 Melanesia
- 34.09 Papua New Guinea
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 58.57
02Over time
Which way Papua New Guinea 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
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea fell from -0.299 in 2000 to -0.546 in 2025; the world median went from -0.021 to 0.171.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2025 -0.546 0.1706 2024 -0.641 0.1385 2023 -0.579 0.1269 2022 -0.727 0.0991 2021 -0.807 0.0836 2020 -0.823 0.0582 2019 -0.851 0.0678 2018 -0.850 0.1121 2017 -0.895 0.0177 2016 -0.783 -0.0161 2015 -0.724 0.0464 2014 -0.708 0.0366 2013 -0.815 -0.0060 2012 -0.910 0.0470 2011 -0.928 -0.0034 2010 -0.972 0.0100 2009 -0.959 0.1579 2008 -0.824 0.0744 2007 -0.964 0.1154 2006 -1.113 0.0812 2005 -1.082 0.0308 2004 -0.795 -0.0307 2003 -0.931 0.0683 2002 -0.871 -0.0154 2000 -0.299 -0.0212 Physical Violence Index
Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1) · higher is better
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea fell from 0.811 in 2000 to 0.782 in 2025; the world median went from 0.728 to 0.79.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2025 0.782 0.7900 2024 0.782 0.7850 2023 0.782 0.7885 2022 0.822 0.8190 2021 0.822 0.8245 2020 0.822 0.8265 2019 0.794 0.8015 2018 0.794 0.8200 2017 0.780 0.7880 2016 0.780 0.7865 2015 0.781 0.7930 2014 0.781 0.7790 2013 0.781 0.7700 2012 0.779 0.7805 2011 0.790 0.7900 2010 0.799 0.7990 2009 0.811 0.7890 2008 0.811 0.7770 2007 0.811 0.7700 2006 0.811 0.7700 2005 0.811 0.7550 2004 0.811 0.7700 2003 0.811 0.7600 2002 0.811 0.7440 2001 0.811 0.7480 2000 0.811 0.7280 Political Violence by Non-State Actors
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence · lower is better
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea rose from -0.732 in 2000 to -0.328 in 2025; the world median went from -0.766 to -0.661.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2025 -0.33 -0.661 2024 -0.33 -0.626 2023 -0.33 -0.617 2022 0.23 -0.522 2021 -0.61 -0.530 2020 -0.61 -0.620 2019 -0.61 -0.620 2018 -0.61 -0.787 2017 -0.56 -0.651 2016 -0.56 -0.633 2015 -0.63 -0.757 2014 -0.63 -0.748 2013 -0.63 -0.755 2012 -0.57 -0.755 2011 -0.57 -0.737 2010 -0.65 -0.767 2009 -0.73 -0.767 2008 -0.73 -0.798 2007 -0.73 -0.801 2006 -0.73 -0.847 2005 -0.73 -0.743 2004 -0.73 -0.847 2003 -0.73 -0.818 2002 -0.73 -0.770 2001 -0.73 -0.760 2000 -0.73 -0.766 Global Militarisation Index
GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight) · lower is better
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea fell from 55.21 in 2000 to 34.09 in 2023; the world median went from 120.02 to 100.66.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2023 34.1 100.7 2022 33.1 100.9 2021 33.9 102.9 2020 36.1 104.4 2019 34.9 101.6 2018 33.3 98.1 2017 17.4 101.3 2016 18.0 102.0 2015 38.0 105.7 2014 36.0 103.0 2013 36.7 108.5 2012 42.6 109.5 2011 37.2 112.0 2010 36.2 114.8 2009 41.8 117.0 2008 37.8 114.4 2007 19.6 117.1 2006 18.1 116.5 2005 42.1 113.9 2004 40.9 113.6 2003 39.4 117.9 2002 40.0 120.1 2001 51.0 122.0 2000 55.2 120.0
03In context
Papua New Guinea 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.
Papua New Guinea 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 81st | -0.546 | 0.782 | -0.328 | 34.09 |
 Indonesia | 98th | -0.739 | 0.636 | -0.328 | 58.57 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Melanesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 177.
Vanuatu17th
Fiji19th
Solomon Islands=39th- Papua New Guinea81st
New Caledonianot placed
Placed either side on peace & security
The countries immediately above and below Papua New Guinea in the topic’s list.
Mongolia78th
Chile79th
Turkmenistan80th- Papua New Guinea81st
Laos82nd
Oman83rd
Bulgaria84th
04Context, no vote
Where Papua New Guinea is ahead of the world, and behind
12 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.
Ahead of the world median2
Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does better than the middle country measured.
Armed Forces Personnel (% of population)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.260.040.26No real change since 2009
Papua New Guinea: 0.04 · 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.
Military Dimension IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.100.1▲ Improved since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 0 · 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.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does worse than the middle country measured.
Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 0310▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 31 · 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 44th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Civilian Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 030▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 3 · 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.
INFORM Risk IndexEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · 2025 · world median 3.76.33.7No real change since 2016
Papua New Guinea: 6.3 · 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 23rd of 191 · derived, 1st = worst.
Deaths in Non-State ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 0310▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 31 · 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.
State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.37195.3▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 71 · 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.
Government Cyber Security CapacityV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.196-1.5290.196▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: -1.529 · 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 167th of 176 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Deaths in State-Based Armed ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 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.
No better end3
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 1,2726441,272Moved since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 644 · 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.
Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCRUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 489,65070,124489,650Moved since 2020
Papua New Guinea: 70,124 · world median 489,650 · Internally displaced people protected or assisted by UNHCR, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4,099 to 9,139,309.
Arms Imports (% of total imports)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.300.3No real change since 2009
Papua New Guinea: 0 · 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.
“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 Papua New Guinea’s 15 topics
Peace & Security is Papua New Guinea’s 3rd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability14th of 1863/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade67th of 1773/4 keys
- Peace & Security81st of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties112th of 1984/4 keys
- Energyjoint 95th of 1652/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture117th of 1843/4 keys
- Digital & Technology142nd of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions142nd of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality139th of 1833/4 keys
- Work & Labour150th of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation147th of 1763/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital164th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing171st of 2002/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge172nd of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 190th of 1933/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: 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 Papua New Guinea 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 Oceania
New Zealand5th4/4 keysHighest in Melanesia
Vanuatu17th2/4 keysThis page
Papua New Guinea81st4/4 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 Papua New Guinea and peace & security
08Questions
Papua New Guinea 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 Papua New Guinea rank on peace & security?
Papua New Guinea is placed 81st 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 Papua New Guinea?
-0.546 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 Papua New Guinea?
0.782 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 Papua New Guinea compare with Indonesia on peace & security?
Indonesia is placed 98th of 177, and Papua New Guinea 81st. Political Stability and Absence of Violence: Indonesia -0.739, Papua New Guinea -0.546; Physical Violence Index: Indonesia 0.636, Papua New Guinea 0.782; Political Violence by Non-State Actors: Indonesia -0.328, Papua New Guinea -0.328; Global Militarisation Index: Indonesia 58.57, Papua New Guinea 34.09.
How have Papua New Guinea’s peace & security figures changed?
Political Stability and Absence of Violence fell from -0.299 in 2000 to -0.546 in 2025; Physical Violence Index fell from 0.811 in 2000 to 0.782 in 2025; Political Violence by Non-State Actors rose from -0.732 in 2000 to -0.328 in 2025; Global Militarisation Index fell from 55.21 in 2000 to 34.09 in 2023.
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 12 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
Papua New Guinea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Papua New Guinea (banner) — eGuide Travel, 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). Papua New Guinea: Peace & Security — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/papua-new-guinea/security