Azerbaijan has maintained its status as one of the safest countries in the world according to the newly released Global Terrorism Index 2026 (GTI) report, which ranks nations based on the level of terrorist threats and activity.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the countries with the highest levels of terrorist activity and threats include Pakistan (8.574), Burkina Faso (8.324), and Niger (7.816), which occupy the top positions in the ranking.
The index further places Syria (7.38) in 6th place, Israel (6.79) in 10th, Afghanistan (6.678) in 11th, India (6.428) in 13th, Russia (5.593) in 17th, and Iran (5.477) in 18th. Other rankings include the United States under US President Donald Trump at 28th (4.521), Germany at 29th (4.447), France at 35th (3.224), Türkiye at 36th (3.212), China at 54th (1.311), Switzerland at 67th (0.749), the United Arab Emirates at 68th (0.749), Georgia at 77th (0.506), and Armenia at 81st (0.483).
According to the report, Azerbaijan improved its standing by three positions compared to the previous year. Moving from 90th place with an index of 0.233, Azerbaijan is now ranked 93rd with an index of 0.123. On a scale of 1 to 100, where a higher index indicates a greater threat, Azerbaijan’s low score confirms its position as one of the most secure nations globally regarding terrorism risks.
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) rankings are calculated based on various indicators, including the number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries, hostages, the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures, and the efficiency of terrorism investigations.
The GTI report, published periodically by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), serves as a primary reference for the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, and other international academic and political institutions. These reports are also critical resources for foreign investors when assessing risks within a country's economic infrastructure.
Despite being located in a complex and sensitive geopolitical region where religious, political, and national tensions often lead to security threats, Azerbaijan has achieved a high internal security rating. This success is attributed to the effective domestic and foreign policies implemented by the state, as well as the proactive measures taken by the State Security Service and other law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.
As emphasized by President Ilham Aliyev, issues of security and stability must remain the top priority on any country's agenda, as without these foundations, all other developmental efforts are rendered meaningless. The Republic of Azerbaijan continues to prioritize regional stability and the protection of its territorial integrity as core pillars of its national strategy.
