Peace reigns in Costa Rica

Demilitarized since 1948, Costa Rica for the second consecutive year ranks as the most peaceful country in Central America, according to the Global Peace Index 2013, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

Costa Rica is in 40th position in the global index, three places worse than the year before.

Panama is second in the region and 56th in the world, while Honduras is the most violent country in Central America.

Iceland leads the world ranking, while Afghanistan is last in the list of 162 countries.

The index measures factors such as the number of homicides, effect of terrorism, political stability, and military spending as a percentage of GDP (figures in parentheses refer to the position of each Central American country in the global ranking).
 

1. Costa Rica (40)
2. Panama (56)
3. Nicaragua (66)
4. Guatemala (109)
5. El Salvador (112)
6. Honduras (126)