Peace Ranking in Asia

Asia Table of Comparison: Global Peace Index Rankings 2008

Resource: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
Comparison Table: by Runckel & Associates

The Global Peace Index (GPI) Rankings which started in 2007 (the rankings for 2008 are the second time for this index) are computed yearly based on a range of conflict and security factors. These include such factors as number of violent crimes, homicide levels, incarceration rates, levels of military spending and weapons access, to levels of disrespect for human rights. Each country is categorized according to its findings.

The table below provides the GPI rankings for the 140 countries analysed in 2008 and the 121 countries analysed in 2007, as well as year-on-year comparison. Countries most at peace are ranked first. A lower score indicates a more peaceful country. (Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Results for 2008 in terms of Asia showing Japan as the most stable or peaceful country in the region and North Korea as the least stable or least peaceful would be an assesment that most knowledgable Asia experts would agree. Some of the rankings between countries are less clear cut but in general the Global Peace Index can be a valid indicative tool to consider in siting an investment. However we suggest in doing your due diligence that you meet with a national or regional security specialist such as John Muller, CEO of Security Services Asia (SSA) interviewed recently in our Insight section. Security and safety are definite requirements that should be considered in every investment decision.

Country	GPI 2008 Rank	GPI 2007 Rank*	GPI Differences Yr. 2008 - 140 countries; Yr. 2007 - 121 countries **
Japan	5	5	+1
Hong Kong	23	23	+2
Singapore	29	29	+2
South Korea	32	32	+2
Vietnam	37	37	-1
Malaysia	38	38	0
Laos	51	51	new
China	67	67	-4
Indonesia	68	68	+13
Cambodia	91	91	+1
India	107	107	+12
Philippines	113	113	-2
Thailand	118	118	-1
Myanmar	126	126	-5
North Korea	133	113	new

* The expansion of the GPI from 121 countries to 140 does not lend itself to direct comparisons of changes in rank as the introduction of a number of countries instantly pushes various countries downwards.
** This column is a special comparative version of the GPI in 2008 for the original 121 countries.

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Level of Distrust in Other Citizens
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

A qualitative assessment of the level of distrust in other citizens, ranked from 1-5 (very low to very high) by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Country Analysis team. The lowest score (1) records that the majority of other people can be trusted and that there is an overall positive climate of trust in the country. The highest score (5) indicates that people are extremely cautious in dealing with others.

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	4
China	4
Hong Kong	1
India	3
Indonesia	3
Japan	2
Laos	3
Malaysia	2
Philippines	3
South Korea	2
Singapore	3
Thailand	3
Vietnam	2

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Number of internal security officers and police 100,000 people
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

The original figures have been taken from UNODC, 9th, 8th and 7th UN Surveys of Criminal Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (UNCJS) and refer to the civil police force as distinct from national guards or local militia. Where there are gaps, EIU analysts have filled the gaps and clustered data in bands:

1 = 0-199, 2 = 200-399, 3 = 400-599, 4 = 600-799, 5 = > 800

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	1
China	2
Hong Kong	3
India	1
Indonesia	1
Japan	1
Laos	2
Malaysia	2
Philippines	1
South Korea	1
Singapore	2
Thailand	2
Vietnam	3

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Number of homicides per 100,000 people
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Intentional homicide refers to death deliberately inflicted on a person by another person, including infanticide. Where data are not present, The Economist Intelligence Unit's analysts have estimated figures based on their deep knowledge of each country. All the figures for homicides per 100,000 people have been banded as:

1=0-1.9, 2=2-5.9, 3=6-9.9, 4=10-19.9, 5= >20

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	2
China	1
Hong Kong	1
India	2
Indonesia	1
Japan	1
Laos	1
Malaysia	2
Philippines	2
South Korea	2
Singapore	1
Thailand	3
Vietnam	1

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Level of organised conflict (internal)
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Qualitative assessment of the intensity of conflicts within the country. Ranked 1-5 (very low-very high) by EIU analysts

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	2
China	2
Hong Kong	1
India	3
Indonesia	2
Japan	1
Laos	2
Malaysia	1
Philippines	3
South Korea	2
Singapore	1
Thailand	3
Vietnam	1

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Likelihood of violent demonstrations
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Qualitative assessment of the level of violent demonstrations. Ranked 1-5 (very low-very high) by EIU analysts

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	4
China	2
Hong Kong	2
India	3
Indonesia	3
Japan	1
Laos	2
Malaysia	2
Philippines	4
South Korea	3
Singapore	1
Thailand	4
Vietnam	2

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Level of violent crime
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Qualitative assessment of the level of violent crime. Ranked 1-5 (very low-very high) by EIU analysts

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	5
China	2
Hong Kong	2
India	3
Indonesia	4
Japan	1
Laos	2
Malaysia	2
Philippines	4
South Korea	1
Singapore	1
Thailand	4
Vietnam	2

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Political instability
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Qualitative assessment of level of political instability. Ranked 1-5 (very low-very high) by EIU analysts

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	3.75
China	3.125
Hong Kong	2.25
India	1.62
Indonesia	2
Japan	1
Laos	2.75
Malaysia	2.25
Philippines	3
South Korea	1.75
Singapore	1
Thailand	3.62
Vietnam	2.75

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Respect for human rights
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

A qualitative measure of the level of political terror through an analysis of Amnesty International's Yearbook.

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	3
China	4
Hong Kong	1.5
India	3
Indonesia	3
Japan	1
Laos	3
Malaysia	3
Philippines	4
South Korea	2
Singapore	2
Thailand	4
Vietnam	2

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Potential for terriorist acts
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Qualitative assessment of the potential for terrorist acts. Ranked 1-5 (very low-very high) by EIU analysts

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	2
China	1
Hong Kong	1
India	4
Indonesia	4
Japan	1
Laos	2
Malaysia	2
Philippines	4
South Korea	1
Singapore	2
Thailand	4
Vietnam	1

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Relations with neighbouring countries
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Qualitative assessment of relations with neighbouring countries. Ranked 1-5 (very low-very high) by EIU analysts

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	2
China	3
Hong Kong	3
India	3
Indonesia	2
Japan	3
Laos	2
Malaysia	2
Philippines	2
South Korea	3
Singapore	2
Thailand	2
Vietnam	2.5

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Political Democracy Index
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Source: EIU Analysts; Year: 2006

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	4.8
China	3
Hong Kong	5.9
India	7.8
Indonesia	6.3
Japan	8.4
Laos	2.1
Malaysia	6.4
Philippines	6.1
South Korea	8
Singapore	5.9
Thailand	6.8
Vietnam	2.5

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Electoral process
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Qualitative assessment of whether elections are competitive in that electors are free to vote and are offered a range of choices. Ranked 1- 10 (very low to very high)

Source: EIU Democracy Index; Year: 2008

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	5.6
China	0
Hong Kong	3.5
India	9.6
Indonesia	6.9
Japan	9.2
Laos	0
Malaysia	6.5
Philippines	8.3
South Korea	11.5
Singapore	4.3
Thailand	7.8
Vietnam	0.8

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Corruption perceptions
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

Corruption perceptions (CPI score: 10 = highly clean, 0 = highly corrupt)
The Index draws on multiple expert opinion surveys that poll perceptions of public sector corruption scoring countries on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating high levels of perceived corruption and 10 indicating low levels of perceived corruption.

Source: Transparency International, Corruption Perception Index; Year: 2007

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	2
China	3.5
Hong Kong	8.3
India	3.5
Indonesia	2.3
Japan	7.5
Laos	1.9
Malaysia	5.1
Philippines	2.5
South Korea	5.1
Singapore	9.3
Thailand	3.3
Vietnam	2.6

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Freedom of the press
(Source: http://www.visionofhumanity.org)

The index measures the state of press freedom in the world, reflecting the degree of freedom journalists and news organisations enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the state to respect and ensure respect for this freedom

Source: Reporter Without Borders; Year: 2007

Country	GPI 2008 Rank
Cambodia	25.3
China	89
Hong Kong	20
India	39.3
Indonesia	30.5
Japan	11.8
Laos	75
Malaysia	41
Philippines	44.8
South Korea	12.1
Singapore	56
Thailand	53.5
Vietnam	79.3

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