I once asked my grandmother what she remembered most about the war, expecting tales of fear or desperation. Instead, she told me about the neighbor who risked his own safety to share bread with her family. That memory shaped my imagination of peace—not as some lofty ideal, but as something built on thousands of small, brave gestures. In 2025, with the Global Peace Index showing the lowest global peacefulness in decades, dreaming of a world without war feels both urgent and rebellious. So what stands in our way—and what could make this dream a reality?
The Quiet Numbers: What the Global Peace Index 2025 Tells Us
When I first opened the Global Peace Index 2025 report, I was struck by how quietly the numbers speak. There’s no dramatic headline, no urgent call to action—just a steady, sobering account of how the world’s peacefulness continues to slip away. The data is clear: global peacefulness has now fallen to its lowest level since the Index began. In fact, research shows we are facing the most fragile conditions since the end of World War II.
Let’s look at what these numbers actually mean. According to the Vision of Humanity report, there are currently 59 active state-based conflicts—the highest number recorded since WWII. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a reflection of real lives disrupted, families displaced, and entire communities living in uncertainty. The Global Peace Index 2025 reveals that over 152,000 people died in conflict in 2024 alone. Even more alarming, 17 countries each suffered more than 1,000 internal conflict deaths last year. These are not isolated incidents; they represent a global trend.
The economic impact of violence is another quiet number that’s hard to ignore. In 2024, the global economic cost of violence reached an astonishing $19.97 trillion. That’s about 11.6% of the world’s total GDP. When I try to imagine what that figure means, I think of the resources that could have been used for education, healthcare, or building resilient communities. Instead, they are lost to the ongoing cycle of conflict and insecurity.
What’s especially concerning is that this decline in global peacefulness is not a sudden event. The data shows a steady deterioration every year since 2014. More than 100 countries have seen their peacefulness decline over the past decade. This isn’t just about war zones or far-off places. It’s a pattern that affects all of us, directly or indirectly.
There’s also a shift in the global landscape that complicates peacebuilding. The report describes a phenomenon called ‘The Great Fragmentation’, where the number of globally influential countries has nearly tripled since the Cold War. We’ve gone from 13 to 34 influential powers by 2023. This rise in new powers makes it harder to find common ground and resolve conflicts. As a result, more conflicts are internationalized, with 78 countries involved in disputes beyond their own borders in 2024.
‘Global peace is at its lowest level since the inception of the Global Peace Index.’
These numbers, while quiet on the page, echo loudly in the real world. The Global Peace Index 2025 doesn’t just measure conflict deaths or the economic impact of violence; it measures the distance between the world we have and the world we wish for—a world where people understand and help each other.
Hotspots and Human Stories: Where Conflict Escalates and Why It Matters
When I think about the dream of a world without wars—a world where people understand and help each other—it feels both urgent and distant. The reality, as the Global Peace Index 2025 shows, is that peace is fragile, and conflict escalation hotspots are multiplying. These escalation hotspots, such as Kashmir, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, are not just names on a map. They are places where lives are upended daily by ethnic violence, militia fragmentation, and deep political grievances.
Research shows that these regions are driven by a toxic mix of unresolved political grievances and the rise of fragmented militias. In Kashmir, for example, decades of tension have created a cycle of unrest that seems impossible to break. South Sudan and Ethiopia are marked by ethnic violence that tears communities apart, while Eritrea remains locked in a struggle shaped by both internal and external pressures. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a wider trend.
What’s striking is how conflicts are no longer contained within borders. As of 2024, 78 countries are involved in conflicts beyond their own territories. This internationalization complicates peacebuilding efforts and stretches humanitarian resources thin. As one report puts it,
'Conflicts are increasingly internationalized, involving 78 countries in conflicts beyond their borders.'This means that escalation hotspots are not just local tragedies—they are global challenges, shaped by shifting geopolitical tensions and the ambitions of middle powers.
The data is sobering. There are now 59 active state-based conflicts worldwide, the highest number since World War II. Conflict-related deaths have soared, with 17 countries recording over 1,000 internal conflict deaths in 2024 alone. The economic impact is staggering, too, with violence costing the world nearly $20 trillion this year. These numbers are more than statistics—they represent shattered families, lost futures, and communities living in fear.
But amid the bleakness, I am reminded of the resilience and hope that persist in these escalation hotspots. I once met a young man from Khartoum, Sudan, who had lost family members to violence. Despite his grief, he volunteered at a refugee center every day, helping others who had suffered even more. His story is not unique. Across these regions, people find ways to support each other, even when the world seems to have turned its back.
Humanitarian efforts are critical, yet they are often stretched to the breaking point. Aid workers, local volunteers, and ordinary citizens step in where governments and international organizations sometimes cannot. Their stories remind us that, even in the darkest escalation hotspots, empathy and solidarity endure.
In the end, understanding where conflict escalates—and why—matters for all of us. These hotspots are shaped by ethnic violence, political grievances, and the ever-changing landscape of geopolitical tensions. But they are also defined by the courage and compassion of those who refuse to give up on peace.
The Price of Violence: Economic Ripples and Lost Opportunities
When I reflect on the economic impact of violence, the numbers are staggering. In 2024 alone, violence cost the global economy a record $19.97 trillion. That’s about 11.6% of the world’s total GDP. It’s a figure so large, it’s almost hard to grasp. Yet, behind every dollar lost, there are missed opportunities—schools that could have been built, hospitals that remain underfunded, and communities left without vital infrastructure. The economics of violence isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the futures we forfeit.
Research shows that the economic burden of violence diverts crucial resources away from development. Funds that could support education, health, and innovation are instead funneled into military expenditure. This imbalance is a recurring theme in peace research. While nations pour vast sums into defense, only a tiny fraction is allocated to peacebuilding efforts.
Let’s look at the numbers more closely. In 2024, military expenditure related to peacebuilding and peacekeeping was just $47.2 billion. To put that in perspective, that’s only 0.52% of total military spending worldwide. As the Global Peace Index highlights, “Military expenditure related to peacebuilding and peacekeeping was $47.2 billion, only 0.52% of total military spending.” The rest—over 99%—goes elsewhere.
This disproportionate allocation is not just an accounting issue. It’s a reflection of priorities. When so little is invested in peacebuilding expenditure, the result is a cycle where violence persists, and the economic impact of violence continues to grow. The missed opportunities are everywhere. Imagine, for a moment, if every school in the world received just 1% of the global defense budget. What kind of future could we build? Would we see a generation of children empowered to solve the very conflicts that now drain our resources?
The reality is, peacebuilding efforts are consistently underfunded. Studies indicate that the global peacefulness has deteriorated every year since 2014. There are now 59 active state-based conflicts—the highest number since the end of World War II. Conflict-related deaths reached 152,000 in 2024, and the economic consequences ripple far beyond the immediate zones of violence. The cost is not only measured in lost GDP, but in lost human potential.
When I consider these facts, I can’t help but think about the opportunities lost to violence. The economic impact of violence is not just a statistic—it’s a story of roads not taken, innovations never realized, and communities left behind. The imbalance in military expenditure versus peacebuilding expenditure is a call to rethink our global priorities. If we truly want to dream of a world without wars, as the Global Peace Index urges, we must invest more in peacebuilding efforts and less in perpetuating cycles of violence.
Small Acts, Big Ripples: Everyday Peacebuilding in Action
When I imagine a world without wars, I find myself drawn not to grand summits or sweeping treaties, but to the quiet, persistent work of everyday people. The latest Global Peace Index paints a sobering picture: global peacefulness has declined for over a decade, with conflict-related deaths reaching staggering numbers and more countries embroiled in violence than at any time since World War II. Yet, amid this chaos, I see hope in the small acts that ripple outward—moments of empathy, community support programs, and humanitarian efforts that, though often overlooked, play outsized roles in building a culture of peace.
Community support programs are the unsung heroes in regions marked by instability. Whether it's a local food bank in a conflict zone or a neighborhood group welcoming refugees, these grassroots initiatives offer more than just material aid. They foster trust, create safe spaces, and help rewrite the narrative of what is possible in fractured communities. I think of stories like the bread-sharer during WWII, risking everything for neighbors, or modern volunteers who quietly help displaced families rebuild their lives. These acts may seem small, but research shows they can shift attitudes, reduce fear, and lay the groundwork for broader reconciliation.
Humanitarian efforts, too, are more than emergency responses—they are seeds for long-term peace. When I see teachers organizing after-school programs or local leaders mediating disputes, I am reminded that peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of understanding and cooperation. Studies indicate that grassroots efforts and empathy-driven actions are as vital as political agreements, especially in environments where official channels are gridlocked or mistrusted.
Non-violent communication is another powerful tool in this landscape. I have witnessed how simple changes in language—listening first, expressing needs without blame—can defuse tensions, whether on a playground or in a city council meeting. These techniques, when practiced consistently, ripple outward. They influence families, schools, workplaces, and even parliaments. In my experience, everyday empathy and non-violent communication have transformative potential, helping to bridge divides that formal negotiations often cannot.
Social movements for harmony remind me that building a culture of peace is a collective, bottom-up process. From local peace walks to global campaigns for justice, these movements show that ordinary people can drive extraordinary change. They remind us that peace is not a static state, but an ongoing practice—one that requires courage, patience, and the willingness to engage with difference.
'Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means...' – Dalai Lama
In the end, the lessons from the Global Peace Index and from everyday life are clear: while political agreements matter, it is the steady, often invisible work of individuals and communities that truly sustains peace. Each small act, each moment of empathy, sends ripples far beyond its origin—shaping not just local neighborhoods, but the very fabric of our global society.
Beyond Statistics: Imagining a Future of Understanding and Unity
When I look at the latest Global Peace Index, the numbers are sobering. Global peace is at its lowest level since the Index began, with more countries experiencing conflict and the cost of violence reaching nearly $20 trillion. Yet, as I reflect on these statistics, I find myself drawn to a different kind of measurement—one that goes beyond data and charts. I want to imagine what a vision for a peaceful future could look like if we focused not just on numbers, but on reimagining trust, empathy, and cooperation.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem. There are 59 active state-based conflicts, and conflict-related deaths have reached staggering numbers. But research shows that blending empathy, creativity, and sound policy may offer our best hope for peace and stability. This means that while international agreements and formal conflict resolution strategies are critical, they are only part of the equation. The other part is much more personal—and perhaps, more powerful.
I often wonder: what if global cooperation for peace started with something as simple as sharing a story? Imagine every international negotiation beginning not with rigid agendas, but with participants recalling a childhood memory. It sounds unconventional, maybe even naïve. But sometimes, the most outlandish ideas are the ones worth dreaming about—and acting on. After all, shared humanity is the key to unlocking peace. When we remember that every leader, every negotiator, and every citizen has a story, a family, and dreams, the path to understanding becomes clearer.
Of course, I don’t want to suggest that empathy alone can resolve complex geopolitical tensions. The world is experiencing what some call ‘The Great Fragmentation,’ with power dynamics shifting and conflicts becoming more internationalized than ever. But if we only focus on the hard edges of policy and ignore the soft power of human connection, we risk missing the very foundation of lasting peace. As Einstein famously said,
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
So, as we envision a world without war, let’s dare to blend creativity with concrete action. Let’s support policies that encourage dialogue and cooperation, but also nurture everyday bridge-building—whether that’s in our communities or across continents. The lesson from the Global Peace Index is not just about where we stand, but about where we could go if we choose to act differently. Peace and stability are not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of understanding.
In the end, imagining peace is not an escape from reality. It’s a call to reimagine what’s possible—together. If a world without war seems outlandish, maybe that’s exactly why we need to keep dreaming, and keep building, one act of empathy at a time.
