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Poland Rises to 22nd in Global Peace Index, Thanks to Stronger Neighbour Relations and Lower Domestic Violence
Poland has leapt 23 places in the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), the Institute for Economics and Peace’s annual ranking of 163 countries on their level of peace. The country’s score climbed 9.1 %, from 45th to 22nd, and its final GPI value reached 1.615 on a scale of 1 to 5.
The IEP report pinpoints the jump largely to gains in the “ongoing conflict” domain, which measures a nation’s involvement in armed conflict and its relations with neighbours. Since Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has tightened security ties with regional allies. In 2024 it signed a strategic defence agreement with Sweden; 2025 brought a treaty with France that includes mutual security guarantees, and a partnership with the United Kingdom to jointly develop an air‑defence missile, conduct large‑scale exercises, and coordinate responses to Russian hybrid attacks. A defence agreement with Germany is slated for signing later this month.
Domestic safety also improved, a change the IEP attributes to a decline in violence at demonstrations. Large‑scale political protests that had characterised the final years of the former Law and Justice (PiS) administration subsided under the new government. The report highlights gains on its political terror scale, which measures political violence and repression based on human‑rights reports. The authors suggest that the current administration’s efforts to restore the rule of law and reverse the politicisation of judicial institutions have contributed to these gains.
Poland’s homicide rate ranks among the lowest in Europe, and survey data indicate that nearly nine in ten Poles consider the country a safe place to live. The country’s overall safety and security domain score rose, reflecting lower crime rates and improved public perceptions of safety.
However, the GPI’s militarisation category, which penalises high defence spending, lowered Poland’s overall score. The IEP notes that many European countries have faced a similar trend since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and that the trend is unlikely to reverse soon because of rising geopolitical tensions. Poland’s defence budget reached 4.8 % of GDP in 2026, making it NATO’s biggest relative defence spender. Polish officials say the outlay is intended for deterrence, to reduce the possibility of Russian military action.
The IEP also reports that Poland is the “primary focus” of Russian sabotage actions. Last year, about 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, violating NATO territory.
In the broader context, the 2026 GPI places Iceland, New Zealand and Switzerland at the top of the list, while Russia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ukraine occupy the bottom four positions.
Poland’s rise in the GPI highlights a mix of diplomatic gains and domestic improvements that have outweighed the negative impact of a large‑scale military build‑up. The country’s new defence agreements with Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, combined with lower domestic violence and crime, have contributed to its best performance in the index to date.
The IEP’s findings will be presented at the GPI launch event in London, Washington, D.C. and New York City. Poland’s government has said it will continue to pursue security cooperation with its neighbours while maintaining a focus on domestic safety and rule‑of‑law reforms.
The IEP report pinpoints the jump largely to gains in the “ongoing conflict” domain, which measures a nation’s involvement in armed conflict and its relations with neighbours. Since Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has tightened security ties with regional allies. In 2024 it signed a strategic defence agreement with Sweden; 2025 brought a treaty with France that includes mutual security guarantees, and a partnership with the United Kingdom to jointly develop an air‑defence missile, conduct large‑scale exercises, and coordinate responses to Russian hybrid attacks. A defence agreement with Germany is slated for signing later this month.
Domestic safety also improved, a change the IEP attributes to a decline in violence at demonstrations. Large‑scale political protests that had characterised the final years of the former Law and Justice (PiS) administration subsided under the new government. The report highlights gains on its political terror scale, which measures political violence and repression based on human‑rights reports. The authors suggest that the current administration’s efforts to restore the rule of law and reverse the politicisation of judicial institutions have contributed to these gains.
Poland’s homicide rate ranks among the lowest in Europe, and survey data indicate that nearly nine in ten Poles consider the country a safe place to live. The country’s overall safety and security domain score rose, reflecting lower crime rates and improved public perceptions of safety.
However, the GPI’s militarisation category, which penalises high defence spending, lowered Poland’s overall score. The IEP notes that many European countries have faced a similar trend since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and that the trend is unlikely to reverse soon because of rising geopolitical tensions. Poland’s defence budget reached 4.8 % of GDP in 2026, making it NATO’s biggest relative defence spender. Polish officials say the outlay is intended for deterrence, to reduce the possibility of Russian military action.
The IEP also reports that Poland is the “primary focus” of Russian sabotage actions. Last year, about 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, violating NATO territory.
In the broader context, the 2026 GPI places Iceland, New Zealand and Switzerland at the top of the list, while Russia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ukraine occupy the bottom four positions.
Poland’s rise in the GPI highlights a mix of diplomatic gains and domestic improvements that have outweighed the negative impact of a large‑scale military build‑up. The country’s new defence agreements with Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, combined with lower domestic violence and crime, have contributed to its best performance in the index to date.
The IEP’s findings will be presented at the GPI launch event in London, Washington, D.C. and New York City. Poland’s government has said it will continue to pursue security cooperation with its neighbours while maintaining a focus on domestic safety and rule‑of‑law reforms.
