Political Stability by Country

What Is Political Stability?

Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism measures perceptions of the likelihood that a government will be destabilized by unconstitutional or violent means. It is part of the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, with scores usually ranging from –2.5 (weak) to 2.5 (strong). Higher values indicate more stable political environments and fewer risks of conflict or terrorism.

Why Political Stability Matters to a Country’s Progress

  • Signals investment climate, since stable governments attract foreign capital and spur economic growth.
  • Reflects public safety, as lower violence and political turmoil allow citizens to pursue education and work without fear.
  • Guides policy priorities, because governments and NGOs allocate resources to conflict prevention when stability is low.

How to Read the Rankings

  • A higher score indicates stronger political stability and less risk of violence or terrorism.
  • “Most Recent Year” shows the latest annual score; “Change” shows the difference from the prior year’s value.
  • Year-to-year shifts can reflect elections, protests, or security improvements rather than long-term stability trends.

Implications for Policy & Society

  • Low stability scores often prompt governments to invest in security sector reform, conflict mediation, and community engagement to reduce tension.
  • High stability can boost tourism and domestic investment, as citizens and businesses feel safe to participate in markets and social activities.
  • Significant stability declines highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing root causes such as inequality or political exclusion.
  • Monitoring annual changes helps assess the impact of peacebuilding efforts and guides resource allocation to strengthen institutions and prevent violence.

Ranking Highlights

  • Ukraine tops the progress rankings in Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism, recording an increase from -1.95 to -1.43. El Salvador follows with a gain from -0.35 to 0.00, while Sri Lanka rounds out the top three, rising from -0.80 to -0.51.
  • Across all 193 countries, the average year-over-year change was +0.01 pts with a median change of +0.00 pts.
  • Overall, 93 countries improved in this area while 89 worsened. Click on a country to open the full country scorecard and see how it performs across a range of key indicators.
Rank Country Most Recent Year Previous Year Change
1Ukraine flag Ukraine-1.43 (2023)-1.95 (2022)+0.52 pts
2El Salvador flag El Salvador0.00 (2023)-0.35 (2022)+0.35 pts
3Sri Lanka flag Sri Lanka-0.51 (2023)-0.80 (2022)+0.29 pts
4Angola flag Angola-0.34 (2023)-0.63 (2022)+0.29 pts
5Tajikistan flag Tajikistan-0.47 (2023)-0.74 (2022)+0.27 pts
6Nicaragua flag Nicaragua-0.13 (2023)-0.36 (2022)+0.23 pts
7Montenegro flag Montenegro0.07 (2023)-0.14 (2022)+0.21 pts
8Tanzania flag Tanzania-0.05 (2023)-0.26 (2022)+0.21 pts
9Kazakhstan flag Kazakhstan-0.27 (2023)-0.47 (2022)+0.20 pts
10Azerbaijan flag Azerbaijan-0.73 (2023)-0.92 (2022)+0.19 pts
11Papua New Guinea flag Papua New Guinea-0.48 (2023)-0.66 (2022)+0.18 pts
12Ghana flag Ghana-0.02 (2023)-0.20 (2022)+0.18 pts
13Eritrea flag Eritrea-0.79 (2023)-0.96 (2022)+0.17 pts
14Czech Republic flag Czech Republic0.97 (2023)0.81 (2022)+0.16 pts
15Marshall Islands flag Marshall Islands1.18 (2023)1.02 (2022)+0.16 pts
16Indonesia flag Indonesia-0.40 (2023)-0.55 (2022)+0.15 pts
17Liberia flag Liberia-0.12 (2023)-0.27 (2022)+0.15 pts
18Saudi Arabia flag Saudi Arabia-0.21 (2023)-0.36 (2022)+0.15 pts
19Bangladesh flag Bangladesh-0.91 (2023)-1.05 (2022)+0.14 pts
20Cambodia flag Cambodia0.04 (2023)-0.10 (2022)+0.14 pts
21Brunei flag Brunei1.37 (2023)1.24 (2022)+0.13 pts
22Bahamas flag Bahamas1.01 (2023)0.88 (2022)+0.13 pts
23Bosnia and Herzegovina flag Bosnia and Herzegovina-0.35 (2023)-0.48 (2022)+0.13 pts
24Greece flag Greece0.24 (2023)0.11 (2022)+0.13 pts
25Serbia flag Serbia-0.04 (2023)-0.17 (2022)+0.13 pts
26Kuwait flag Kuwait0.41 (2023)0.29 (2022)+0.12 pts
27Slovakia flag Slovakia0.57 (2023)0.45 (2022)+0.12 pts
28Egypt flag Egypt-0.87 (2023)-0.98 (2022)+0.11 pts
29Italy flag Italy0.58 (2023)0.47 (2022)+0.11 pts
30Slovenia flag Slovenia0.82 (2023)0.71 (2022)+0.11 pts
31Thailand flag Thailand-0.28 (2023)-0.39 (2022)+0.11 pts
32Honduras flag Honduras-0.46 (2023)-0.57 (2022)+0.11 pts
33Georgia flag Georgia-0.34 (2023)-0.44 (2022)+0.10 pts
34Latvia flag Latvia0.59 (2023)0.49 (2022)+0.10 pts
35Nauru flag Nauru0.98 (2023)0.88 (2022)+0.10 pts
36Ethiopia flag Ethiopia-1.97 (2023)-2.07 (2022)+0.10 pts
37Philippines flag Philippines-0.57 (2023)-0.66 (2022)+0.09 pts
38Lithuania flag Lithuania0.74 (2023)0.65 (2022)+0.09 pts
39Austria flag Austria0.73 (2023)0.65 (2022)+0.08 pts
40Myanmar flag Myanmar-2.13 (2023)-2.20 (2022)+0.07 pts
41Belarus flag Belarus-0.73 (2023)-0.80 (2022)+0.07 pts
42Algeria flag Algeria-0.58 (2023)-0.65 (2022)+0.07 pts
43Albania flag Albania0.18 (2023)0.11 (2022)+0.07 pts
44Afghanistan flag Afghanistan-2.48 (2023)-2.54 (2022)+0.06 pts
45Venezuela flag Venezuela-1.19 (2023)-1.25 (2022)+0.06 pts
46Guinea-Bissau flag Guinea-Bissau-0.33 (2023)-0.39 (2022)+0.06 pts
47North Korea flag North Korea-0.37 (2023)-0.43 (2022)+0.06 pts
48Mexico flag Mexico-0.63 (2023)-0.69 (2022)+0.06 pts
49Mongolia flag Mongolia0.59 (2023)0.53 (2022)+0.06 pts
50Oman flag Oman0.59 (2023)0.53 (2022)+0.06 pts
51Somalia flag Somalia-2.38 (2023)-2.43 (2022)+0.05 pts
52Barbados flag Barbados1.19 (2023)1.14 (2022)+0.05 pts
53Poland flag Poland0.56 (2023)0.51 (2022)+0.05 pts
54Trinidad and Tobago flag Trinidad and Tobago0.40 (2023)0.35 (2022)+0.05 pts
55Uzbekistan flag Uzbekistan-0.15 (2023)-0.20 (2022)+0.05 pts
56Hungary flag Hungary0.73 (2023)0.68 (2022)+0.05 pts
57New Zealand flag New Zealand1.36 (2023)1.32 (2022)+0.04 pts
58Solomon Islands flag Solomon Islands0.45 (2023)0.41 (2022)+0.04 pts
59Zambia flag Zambia0.20 (2023)0.16 (2022)+0.04 pts
60Paraguay flag Paraguay0.08 (2023)0.04 (2022)+0.04 pts
61Canada flag Canada0.82 (2023)0.78 (2022)+0.04 pts
62Bulgaria flag Bulgaria0.34 (2023)0.31 (2022)+0.03 pts
63South Korea flag South Korea0.61 (2023)0.58 (2022)+0.03 pts
64Norway flag Norway0.89 (2023)0.86 (2022)+0.03 pts
65Qatar flag Qatar0.99 (2023)0.96 (2022)+0.03 pts
66Jordan flag Jordan-0.20 (2023)-0.23 (2022)+0.03 pts
67Rwanda flag Rwanda0.11 (2023)0.08 (2022)+0.03 pts
68Ecuador flag Ecuador-0.34 (2023)-0.37 (2022)+0.03 pts
69Belize flag Belize0.59 (2023)0.56 (2022)+0.03 pts
70Syria flag Syria-2.75 (2023)-2.78 (2022)+0.03 pts
71Burundi flag Burundi-1.17 (2023)-1.19 (2022)+0.02 pts
72Costa Rica flag Costa Rica0.98 (2023)0.96 (2022)+0.02 pts
73Guatemala flag Guatemala-0.24 (2023)-0.26 (2022)+0.02 pts
74Ireland flag Ireland0.90 (2023)0.88 (2022)+0.02 pts
75Jamaica flag Jamaica0.38 (2023)0.36 (2022)+0.02 pts
76Laos flag Laos0.81 (2023)0.79 (2022)+0.02 pts
77Libya flag Libya-2.17 (2023)-2.19 (2022)+0.02 pts
78Mauritania flag Mauritania-0.50 (2023)-0.52 (2022)+0.02 pts
79South Sudan flag South Sudan-2.19 (2023)-2.21 (2022)+0.02 pts
80Türkiye flag Türkiye-1.01 (2023)-1.03 (2022)+0.02 pts
81United States flag United States0.03 (2023)0.01 (2022)+0.02 pts
82Senegal flag Senegal-0.14 (2023)-0.16 (2022)+0.02 pts
83Chile flag Chile0.14 (2023)0.13 (2022)+0.01 pts
84Kenya flag Kenya-0.94 (2023)-0.95 (2022)+0.01 pts
85Malaysia flag Malaysia0.17 (2023)0.16 (2022)+0.01 pts
86Nigeria flag Nigeria-1.77 (2023)-1.78 (2022)+0.01 pts
87Tuvalu flag Tuvalu1.19 (2023)1.18 (2022)+0.01 pts
88Uganda flag Uganda-0.70 (2023)-0.71 (2022)+0.01 pts
89South Africa flag South Africa-0.67 (2023)-0.68 (2022)+0.01 pts
90Vietnam flag Vietnam-0.04 (2023)-0.05 (2022)+0.01 pts
91Nepal flag Nepal-0.23 (2023)-0.24 (2022)+0.01 pts
92Suriname flag Suriname0.41 (2023)0.40 (2022)+0.01 pts
93Central African Republic flag Central African Republic-2.20 (2023)-2.21 (2022)+0.01 pts
94Comoros flag Comoros-0.23 (2023)-0.23 (2022)+0.00 pts
95Equatorial Guinea flag Equatorial Guinea-0.24 (2023)-0.24 (2022)+0.00 pts
96Iraq flag Iraq-2.41 (2023)-2.41 (2022)+0.00 pts
97Kiribati flag Kiribati1.10 (2023)1.10 (2022)+0.00 pts
98Mozambique flag Mozambique-1.27 (2023)-1.27 (2022)+0.00 pts
99Palau flag Palau1.08 (2023)1.08 (2022)+0.00 pts
100Seychelles flag Seychelles0.76 (2023)0.76 (2022)+0.00 pts
101Turkmenistan flag Turkmenistan-0.11 (2023)-0.11 (2022)+0.00 pts
102Timor-Leste flag Timor-Leste0.26 (2023)0.26 (2022)+0.00 pts
103Tonga flag Tonga1.09 (2023)1.09 (2022)+0.00 pts
104Samoa flag Samoa1.10 (2023)1.10 (2022)+0.00 pts
105Benin flag Benin-0.35 (2023)-0.34 (2022)-0.01 pts
106Brazil flag Brazil-0.41 (2023)-0.40 (2022)-0.01 pts
107North Macedonia flag North Macedonia0.17 (2023)0.18 (2022)-0.01 pts
108Andorra flag Andorra1.58 (2023)1.59 (2022)-0.01 pts
109Bahrain flag Bahrain-0.37 (2023)-0.36 (2022)-0.01 pts
110Cyprus flag Cyprus0.41 (2023)0.42 (2022)-0.01 pts
111Djibouti flag Djibouti-0.52 (2023)-0.51 (2022)-0.01 pts
112Dominican Republic flag Dominican Republic0.24 (2023)0.25 (2022)-0.01 pts
113Fiji flag Fiji0.74 (2023)0.75 (2022)-0.01 pts
114Grenada flag Grenada1.02 (2023)1.03 (2022)-0.01 pts
115Haiti flag Haiti-1.43 (2023)-1.42 (2022)-0.01 pts
116Kyrgyzstan flag Kyrgyzstan-0.48 (2023)-0.47 (2022)-0.01 pts
117Saint Lucia flag Saint Lucia1.02 (2023)1.03 (2022)-0.01 pts
118Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1.05 (2023)1.06 (2022)-0.01 pts
119Morocco flag Morocco-0.37 (2023)-0.36 (2022)-0.01 pts
120Monaco flag Monaco1.18 (2023)1.19 (2022)-0.01 pts
121San Marino flag San Marino1.18 (2023)1.19 (2022)-0.01 pts
122Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1.02 (2023)1.03 (2022)-0.01 pts
123Antigua and Barbuda flag Antigua and Barbuda0.92 (2023)0.94 (2022)-0.02 pts
124Saint Kitts and Nevis flag Saint Kitts and Nevis0.92 (2023)0.94 (2022)-0.02 pts
125Congo flag Congo0.02 (2023)0.04 (2022)-0.02 pts
126Cameroon flag Cameroon-1.40 (2023)-1.38 (2022)-0.02 pts
127Dominica flag Dominica1.29 (2023)1.31 (2022)-0.02 pts
128Denmark flag Denmark0.85 (2023)0.87 (2022)-0.02 pts
129United Kingdom flag United Kingdom0.51 (2023)0.53 (2022)-0.02 pts
130India flag India-0.64 (2023)-0.62 (2022)-0.02 pts
131Lesotho flag Lesotho-0.31 (2023)-0.29 (2022)-0.02 pts
132Moldova flag Moldova-0.68 (2023)-0.66 (2022)-0.02 pts
133Namibia flag Namibia0.54 (2023)0.56 (2022)-0.02 pts
134Singapore flag Singapore1.42 (2023)1.44 (2022)-0.02 pts
135Sao Tome and Principe flag Sao Tome and Principe0.44 (2023)0.46 (2022)-0.02 pts
136Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1.61 (2023)1.64 (2022)-0.03 pts
137Vanuatu flag Vanuatu0.93 (2023)0.96 (2022)-0.03 pts
138Argentina flag Argentina-0.13 (2023)-0.10 (2022)-0.03 pts
139Bhutan flag Bhutan0.98 (2023)1.01 (2022)-0.03 pts
140Botswana flag Botswana1.04 (2023)1.07 (2022)-0.03 pts
141Cabo Verde flag Cabo Verde0.90 (2023)0.93 (2022)-0.03 pts
142Spain flag Spain0.29 (2023)0.32 (2022)-0.03 pts
143Peru flag Peru-0.52 (2023)-0.49 (2022)-0.03 pts
144Côte d'Ivoire flag Côte d'Ivoire-0.63 (2023)-0.59 (2022)-0.04 pts
145Germany flag Germany0.59 (2023)0.63 (2022)-0.04 pts
146Guinea flag Guinea-0.88 (2023)-0.84 (2022)-0.04 pts
147Iceland flag Iceland1.21 (2023)1.25 (2022)-0.04 pts
148Tunisia flag Tunisia-0.63 (2023)-0.59 (2022)-0.04 pts
149Zimbabwe flag Zimbabwe-0.93 (2023)-0.89 (2022)-0.04 pts
150Mauritius flag Mauritius0.78 (2023)0.83 (2022)-0.05 pts
151France flag France0.34 (2023)0.39 (2022)-0.05 pts
152Gambia flag Gambia-0.01 (2023)0.04 (2022)-0.05 pts
153Malta flag Malta0.86 (2023)0.91 (2022)-0.05 pts
154United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates0.68 (2023)0.74 (2022)-0.06 pts
155Australia flag Australia0.92 (2023)0.98 (2022)-0.06 pts
156China flag China-0.51 (2023)-0.45 (2022)-0.06 pts
157Romania flag Romania0.37 (2023)0.43 (2022)-0.06 pts
158Democratic Republic of the Congo flag Democratic Republic of the Congo-2.04 (2023)-1.98 (2022)-0.06 pts
159Iran flag Iran-1.69 (2023)-1.63 (2022)-0.06 pts
160Estonia flag Estonia0.66 (2023)0.73 (2022)-0.07 pts
161Netherlands flag Netherlands0.66 (2023)0.73 (2022)-0.07 pts
162Croatia flag Croatia0.60 (2023)0.67 (2022)-0.07 pts
163Malawi flag Malawi-0.24 (2023)-0.16 (2022)-0.08 pts
164Panama flag Panama0.21 (2023)0.29 (2022)-0.08 pts
165Guyana flag Guyana-0.06 (2023)0.02 (2022)-0.08 pts
166Japan flag Japan0.95 (2023)1.03 (2022)-0.08 pts
167Switzerland flag Switzerland1.07 (2023)1.16 (2022)-0.09 pts
168Pakistan flag Pakistan-1.93 (2023)-1.84 (2022)-0.09 pts
169Armenia flag Armenia-0.83 (2023)-0.74 (2022)-0.09 pts
170Colombia flag Colombia-0.72 (2023)-0.63 (2022)-0.09 pts
171Portugal flag Portugal0.71 (2023)0.80 (2022)-0.09 pts
172Chad flag Chad-1.56 (2023)-1.47 (2022)-0.09 pts
173Lebanon flag Lebanon-1.52 (2023)-1.42 (2022)-0.10 pts
174Yemen flag Yemen-2.56 (2023)-2.46 (2022)-0.10 pts
175Cuba flag Cuba0.38 (2023)0.49 (2022)-0.11 pts
176Russia flag Russia-1.13 (2023)-1.01 (2022)-0.12 pts
177Bolivia flag Bolivia-0.31 (2023)-0.19 (2022)-0.12 pts
178Maldives flag Maldives0.53 (2023)0.65 (2022)-0.12 pts
179Micronesia flag Micronesia1.08 (2023)1.21 (2022)-0.13 pts
180Uruguay flag Uruguay0.96 (2023)1.09 (2022)-0.13 pts
181Sierra Leone flag Sierra Leone-0.24 (2023)-0.09 (2022)-0.15 pts
182Eswatini flag Eswatini-0.36 (2023)-0.21 (2022)-0.15 pts
183Sweden flag Sweden0.76 (2023)0.91 (2022)-0.15 pts
184Togo flag Togo-0.95 (2023)-0.79 (2022)-0.16 pts
185Mali flag Mali-2.73 (2023)-2.56 (2022)-0.17 pts
186Belgium flag Belgium0.40 (2023)0.58 (2022)-0.18 pts
187Finland flag Finland0.71 (2023)0.89 (2022)-0.18 pts
188Madagascar flag Madagascar-0.69 (2023)-0.48 (2022)-0.21 pts
189Niger flag Niger-1.67 (2023)-1.46 (2022)-0.21 pts
190Burkina Faso flag Burkina Faso-2.04 (2023)-1.82 (2022)-0.22 pts
191Israel flag Israel-1.46 (2023)-1.23 (2022)-0.23 pts
192Sudan flag Sudan-2.47 (2023)-2.08 (2022)-0.39 pts
193Gabon flag Gabon-0.34 (2023)0.06 (2022)-0.40 pts

Source: World Bank. Only countries with complete data (both points within the past 10 years) are shown.