INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS: USING THE
GLOBAL PEACE INDEX
Every year, the Global Peace Index (product of the Institute for Economics and Peace)
attempts to determine the level of peacefulness of 162 world´s largest countries.
Measuring the countries’ peacefulness is a complex process based on evaluating a wide
range of indicators. There are 22 indicators in total, including things like number of
external and internal conflicts, relations with neighboring countries, political instability,
terrorist activity, number of homicides per 100,000 people, number of jailed persons
per 100,000 people, nuclear and heavy weapons capability and many more.
Since 2007 when the project was launched, Iceland has always been the safest and most
peaceful country in the world.
In this year´s TOP 5 peaceful countries, Iceland (this year´s score 1.189) was followed by
Denmark (1.193), Austria (1.200), New Zealand (1.236), and Switzerland (1.258). In
these countries, as well as in those which ranked close by, you should not worry about
your safety.
Source: http://economicsandpeace.org/
WHAT ARE THE MOST VIOLENT COUNTRIES IN
THE WORLD BASED ON THE GPI?
1. Using the Global Peace index to rank the most dangerous countries in the world:
See the top 10 list on the next slide
2. Video: Profiles of the 25 most dangerous countries in the USA
http://list25.com/25-most-dangerous-countries-according-to-global-peace-index/5/
THE TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES
1. Syria
2. Iraq
3. South Sudan
4. Afghanistan
5. Syria
6. Sudan
7. Central African Republic
8. Democratic Republic of Congo
9. Pakistan
10. North Korea
Question: Why are these countries ranked so high? What makes these countries dangerous
places?
USING THE MURDER RATE TO RANK COUNTRIES
GLOBALLY
Murder Rate: the number of reported murders/ resident population X 100,000
Which countries have the highest murder rates globally? To answer this question, read the
following report: https://www.unodc.org/gsh/en/index.html
Video: Top 10 countries with highest murder rates
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/worlds-highest-murder-rates_n_5125188.html
Background: In 2012, there were almost a half million people intentionally murdered
globally. Over half of all murders occurred in countries representing only 11% of the
global population. The top 10 list is dominated by countries from Africa and the
Americas.
The question to ask and answer: WHY is the murder rate so high in these countries and
regions?
Lets take a look at the top 10:
COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST REPORTED MURDER
RATES ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS HOMICIDE
REPORT
1. Honduras: 90.4
2. Venezuala : 53.7
3. Belize: 44.7
4. El Salvador: 41.2
5. Guatemala; 39.9
6. Jamaica: 39.3
7. Swaziland: 33.8
8. Saint Kitts and Nevis: 33.6
9. South Africa: 31.0
10. Columbia: 30.8
Question: Where does the USA rank globally? USA homicide rate is in the middle of the
pack globally, with a rate of 5.5 per 100,000.
USING THE VIOLENT CRIME INDEX TO RANK
CITIES GLOBALLY
What are the most dangerous cities globally, based on violent crime index?
The Violent Crime Index: reported murders, rapes, robberies, and assaults.
http://list25.com/the-25-most-dangerous-cities-on-earth/
Question: Why is violent crime so high in these cities?
THE 25 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN THE
WORLD
1. Ciudad, Mexico
16. St. Louis, USA
2. Mogadishu, Somalia
17. Port-au-Prince, Haiti
3. Grozny, Chechna
18. Norilsk, Russia
4. Kinshasa, DRC
19. Capetown, South Africa
5. Guatemala City, Guatemala
20. Bangkok, Thailand
6. Caracas, Venezuela
21. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
7. Detroit, USA
22. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
8. Baghdad, Iraq
23. Moscow, Russia
9. Karachi, Pakistan
24. London, UK
10. Johannesburg, South Africa
25. Lagos, Nigeria
11. New Orleans, USA
12. Port Moresby, Papau New Guinea
13. Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
14. Beirut, Lebanon
15. Bogota, Columbia
VIOLENCE IN THE USA: CITY AND STATE LEVEL
VARIATIONS
1. What are the ten most dangerous cities in the USA?
See the list on the following slide and watch the video below:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mB79HlsiYVg
2. Where do murders occur in the USA? A State-by-State breakdown
http://www.statista.com/statistics/195331/number-of-murders-in-the-us-bystate/
Question: Which state has the highest number of reported murders?
Question : Which states have the fewest murders?
THE TEN MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES BASED
ON VIOLENT CRIME INDEX
1. Detroit, Michigan
2. Oakland, California
3. Flint, Michigan
4. St. Louis, Missouri
5. Camden, New Jersey
6. Chicago, Illinois
7. Memphis, Tennessee
8. Birmingham, Alabama
9. Baltimore, Maryland
10. Atlanta, Georgia
Question: What is it about these cities that leads to violence?