Nepal experienced the most significant decline in peacefulness worldwide over the past year, according to the 2026 Global Peace Index, which ranked the country 111th out of 163 nations. This represents a 26-place drop from the previous year and marks Nepal’s lowest position since the index’s inception in 2008. The country’s overall peacefulness score fell by 9.1 percent, the largest decline recorded among all countries, surpassing Oman and the Republic of the Congo.

Compiled annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the Global Peace Index assesses peace through 23 indicators across three categories: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarization. Nepal’s sharp drop is primarily attributed to protests last September, largely driven by Generation Z, and the government’s forceful response to those demonstrations.

The protests began after authorities announced a ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The initial opposition evolved into a nationwide movement targeting issues such as corruption, inequality, and misuse of public funds. Security forces deployed live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons, resulting in at least 76 deaths—including police personnel—and over 2,000 injuries by the end of the month.

These events severely affected measures in the index related to internal conflict, which worsened by 100 percent in intensity. Violent demonstrations increased by 45.5 percent, and political instability also rose. Although Nepal recorded improvements in areas such as terrorism impact and violent crime, these were outweighed by the deteriorations in conflict-related indicators.

A spokesperson from the Institute for Economics and Peace described the scale of Nepal’s decline as rare. According to Mike Koslowski, such a steep drop—exceeding 9 percent in a single year—has occurred in fewer than 2 percent of year-to-year movements globally, often associated with civil wars, coups, or insurgencies. Nepal’s case, while severe, did not involve such conflicts but reflected significant internal unrest.

Experts emphasize that the protests exposed long-standing political, economic, and institutional weaknesses rather than representing an abrupt breakdown. Ajay Das, a peacebuilding practitioner, noted that the violence revealed underlying governance challenges accumulating over years. Despite progress since the end of armed conflict in 2006, including poverty reduction and expanded access to services, persistent inequalities and lack of public trust contributed to the escalation.

Senior researcher Kuldeep Niraula and programme officer Sagar Khadka highlighted that the unrest underscored weak governance, corruption, and exclusion that have eroded confidence in state institutions. Niraula characterized Nepal’s situation as a form of “negative peace,” where the absence of active violence masks unresolved structural issues such as injustice and limited social mobility for significant segments of the population.

Although a new majority government has brought some political stability, researchers assert that challenges remain. Corruption, exclusionary practices, and unequal access to public services continue to undermine democratic institutions. The social media restrictions and harsh security responses became catalysts turning deep-seated frustrations into widespread violence.

The slow progress on transitional justice following the Maoist insurgency, leaving many victims without truth or reparations, further compounds the institutional weaknesses. Nonetheless, the peaceful conduct of national elections six months after the protests suggests a retained constitutional path for political resolution.

According to analysts, reversing Nepal’s decline will require rebuilding trust between citizens and the government through strengthened institutions, enhanced transparency, improved public services, and expanded economic opportunities, particularly for youth and marginalized groups.

Nepal’s decline occurs amid a broader deterioration in global peace, with 99 countries reporting declines and only 62 showing improvements in the latest index. South Asia registered the largest regional downturn, driven by declines in Nepal, Pakistan, and India. Bhutan remains the region’s most peaceful country, ranked 16th globally, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan also rank lower in the index.

Ultimately, Nepal’s future position on the Global Peace Index will depend on how effectively it addresses the longstanding grievances and institutional shortcomings that fueled last year’s unrest.