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Qatar seen most peaceful in Middle East as Israel dips, Turkey ties Iran: GPI

The Global Peace Index placed Turkey as the least peaceful country in Europe ranking, and tied with Iran as the 147th most peaceful country globally.

Muslim worshippers take pictures of each other after attending the Eid al-Adha morning prayers at Doha's Education City Stadium, which hosted matches during Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup, on the first day of the Muslim holiday on June 28, 2023. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, marks the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Muslim worshippers take pictures of each other after attending the Eid al-Adha morning prayers at Doha's Education City Stadium on the first day of the Muslim holiday on June 28, 2023. — KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Qatar ranked as the most peaceful while war-ravaged Yemen was the least in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2022, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI) released Wednesday.

Israel's peacefulness score dropped the most from 2021 to 2022, falling eight places to 143rd globally. The report cited Israel’s worsening ties with its neighbors — particularly the Palestinians — and political instability inside the country as the main drivers for the decline. 

The index placed Turkey as the least peaceful country in Europe ranking, and tied with Iran as the 147th most peaceful country globally.

According to the Australia-based institute’s Annual Peace Index, which ranks 163 countries and territories and covers 99.7% of the global population, the Middle East and North Africa region recorded the second biggest improvement in peacefulness, but remained at the bottom of the regional peace index. The rankings are based on 14 internal and 9 external criteria.

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