In 2024, Somalia was considered the world's most fragile state with a Fragile Index score of 111.3 on a scale from zero to 120, where a higher score suggests the state is more fragile. The country has been ridden by terrorism and violence over the past three decades, with Al-Shabaab being an active terrorist organization in the country. The Fragile States Index assigns each country a score based on a range of social, economic, and political indicators.

Maurice: Fragile state index, 0 (low) - 120 (high): Pour cet indicateur, Fund for Peace fournit des données pour la Maurice de 2007 à 2024. La valeur moyenne pour Maurice pendant cette période était de 41.79 index points avec un minimum de 37.2 index points en 2020 et un maximum de 46.1 index points en 2014.

The Cayman Islands was ranked as the most politically stable country worldwide in 2022 ahead of Liechtenstein. The Caribbean island-state is known for its favorable conditions for large international companies and wealthy individuals, with no income and fortune tax.

Lowest stability in Syria

On the other end of the scale, Syria had the lowest political stability. The Middle Eastern-country has been ridden by civil war since 2012, with the Syrian government battling a range of military groups, including the terrorist organization Islamic State.

Fragile State Index

Another way of measuring political stability is the Fragile States Index compiled annually by the Fund for Peace. In 2023, Somalia was ranked as the most fragile state ahead of Yemen. The index measures state fragility on a range of economic, social, and political indicators.

The “failed/fragile/collapsed state” refers to state authority's complete or partial collapse, such as Somalia and Bosnia. According to Fragile States Index 2020 annual report, approximately 116 countries among 178 countries were in warning or alerting state quo, which hurts three-quarters of the world's population. A systematic scientometric interpretation of failed/fragile/collapsed state analysis would be helpful but is presently absent in the academic community. This review makes three donations by evaluating the 2,417 articles published in the Web of Science (WoS) Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) Collection between 1990 and 2020. First, it provides a unique prospect in failed/fragile/collapsed state studies through a detailed, systematic, and objective analysis. Second, the author has quantitatively tracked the progression of failed/fragile/collapsed state studies from 1990 to 2020. Finally, the author associated evolutionary trajectory analysis with future research directions, offering new pathways for failed/fragile/collapsed state studies. It also helps novice “failed/fragile/collapsed state” researchers and veteran scholars identify future research trends.

Norwegen ist 2024 mit einem Indexwert von 12,7 Punkten der stabilste Staat in Europa und mit der Risikostufe¹ "Very Sustainable" belegt. Diese Statistik zeigt das Ranking der 10 stabilsten Staaten in Europa nach dem Fragile States Index 2024. Die Methodik des Fragile State Index basiert auf Triangulation von drei Primärquellen und der jährlichen Analyse von über einer Million relevanter Dokumente. Die Analyse und Indexierung gliedert sich in 12 politisch-militärische, ökonomische und soziale Primärindikatoren und über 100 Teilindikatoren. Der Gesamtindexwert für jedes Land ergibt sich aus der Summe der folgenden 12 Primärindikatoren, für die jeweils ein Indexwert von 0 bis 10 errechnet wird:Politische und Militärische Indikatoren:-ST: State Legitimacy (Staatliche Legitimität)-PS: Public Services (Öffentlicher Dienst)-HR: Human Rights & Rule of Law (Menschenrechte & Rechtsstaatlichkeit)-SEC: Security Apparatus (Sicherheitsapparat)-FE: Factionalized Elites (Nichtstaatliche Eliten - Staat im Staat) -EXT: External Intervention (Interventionen von Außen)Ökonomische Indikatoren:-UED: Uneven Economic Development (Ungleiche wirtschaftliche Entwicklung)-ECO: Poverty & Economic Decline (Armut und wirtschaftlicher Abstieg)Soziale Indikatoren:-DP: Demographic Pressures (Demographischer Druck)-REF: Refugees and IDPs (Flüchtlinge und Vertriebene)-GG: Group Grievance (Spannungen zwischen Gruppen - z.B. ethnisch oder religiös)-HF: Human Flight & Brain Drain (Migration und "brain drain")

Syria was ranked as the politically least stable country worldwide in 2022 ahead of Afghanistan and Somalia. The country has been ridden by civil war since 2012, with the Syrian government battling a range of different factions.

Syrian Civil War has resulted in large number of refugees

The ongoing fighting and resulting instability in Syria has led to 6.5 million people fleeing the country, making it the largest source country of refugees worldwide. Over half of the Syrian refugees today live in neighboring Turkey.

Fragile State Index

Another way of measuring political stability is the Fragile States Index compiled annually by the Fund for Peace. In 2023, Somalia was ranked as the most fragile state ahead of Yemen. The index measures state fragility on a range of economic, social, and political indicators.