According to the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI) report released in June by the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Cuba has dropped 11 spots, landing at 109th out of 163 evaluated countries.
This significant drop is one of the steepest declines the island has experienced in the index's history, placing it in the "medium" peace category, a stark contrast to the "high" levels it enjoyed just a decade ago.
The report cites several factors contributing to Cuba's decline: political instability, restrictions on civil liberties, widespread social unrest manifesting in street protests, and an increased perception of crime compared to historical records.
This downturn is not isolated; Cuba's trajectory on the index has been consistently declining for years.
In the mid-2010s, Cuba ranked between 84th and 91st, with a "high" peace rating. Since then, it has continued to fall: 99th in 2023, 98th in 2024, 102nd in 2025, and now 109th in 2026.
This ongoing decline coincides with the worsening economic and energy crisis.
In June 2026, Cuba witnessed a historic high of 107 street protests, largely driven by power outages lasting up to 87 hours in Matanzas and a severe electricity shortage that left 70% of the country without power simultaneously.
The regime has responded to these demonstrations with police deployments and arrests, a dynamic that the index itself notes as an indicator of internal instability.
Cuba's position in other international indices for 2026 paints a similar picture: it ranks 160th out of 180 in press freedom according to Reporters Without Borders, and 175th out of 176 in economic freedom according to the Heritage Foundation, with a score of 25.2 out of 100 in the "repressed" category.
The Global Peace Index uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators grouped into three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization.
Regional and Global Trends in Peace
Regionally, the 2026 GPI noted a significant decline in North and Central America: 10 of the 14 countries in the area worsened over the last year, with only four showing improvement. Haiti remains the least peaceful country in the region, ranking 142nd globally.
Globally, the outlook is also grim. The report concluded that "the world became less peaceful for the fifteenth time in the last 18 years": 99 of the 163 evaluated countries experienced setbacks.
This marks the twelfth consecutive year of global decline, with the world peace average falling by 0.7% in the last period.
The IEP also warned that the internationalization of conflicts has intensified: 103 countries have participated to some degree in external conflicts over the past five years, compared to just 59 in 2008.
"This reflects a system where third-party support for internal wars has become increasingly common," the report states.
Among the few positive findings, the index recorded that deaths from terrorism have fallen to their lowest level since 2008.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world for the 19th consecutive year, followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Ireland.
Conversely, Russia ranks at the bottom for the first time, followed by Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and Israel.
FAQs on Cuba's Global Peace Index Ranking
What factors contributed to Cuba's decline in the Global Peace Index?
Cuba's decline in the Global Peace Index is attributed to political instability, restrictions on civil liberties, widespread social unrest, and an increased perception of crime.
How has Cuba's ranking changed over the years?
Cuba's ranking has steadily fallen from positions 84-91 in the mid-2010s to 109th in 2026, reflecting a continuous decline in peace levels.
What are some indicators used in the Global Peace Index?
The Global Peace Index uses 23 indicators across three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization.