Level of distrust in other citizens

A qualitative assessment of the level of distrust in other citizens, ranked from 1-5 (very low to very high) by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Country Analysis team. The lowest score (1) records that the majority of other people can be trusted and that there is an overall positive climate of trust in the country. The highest score (5) indicates that people are extremely cautious in dealing with others.

Number of internal security officers and police 100,000 people

The original figures have been taken from UNODC, 9th, 8th and 7th UN Surveys of Criminal Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (UNCJS) and refer to the civil police force as distinct from national guards or local militia. Where there are gaps, EIU analysts have filled the gaps and clustered data in bands:

1 = 0-199, 2 = 200-399, 3 = 400-599, 4 = 600-799, 5 = > 800

Number of homicides per 100,000 people

Number of homicides per 100,000 people

This indicator has been compiled using UNODC figures (9th, 7th and 8th Surveys of Criminal Trends) rather than Interpol data. The figures refer to the total number of penal code offences or their equivalent, but excluding minor road traffic and other petty offences, brought to the attention of the police or other law enforcement agencies and recorded by one of those agencies. The latest Interpol figures used are for 1998/99 and the consensus among experts on the analysis of criminal justice is that the UNODC figures are more reliable - they are compiled from a standard questionnaire sent to national officials via the UN statistical offi ce. However, the UN acknowledges that international comparisons of crime statistics are beset by methodological diffi culties:

* Different definitions for specific crime types: The category in which any incident of victimization is recorded relies on the legal definition of crime in any country. Should that definition be different, which is often the case, comparisons will not be made of exactly the same crime type. This is particularly the case in crimes that require some discretion from a police officer or relevant authority when they are identified. For example, the definitional difference between serious or common assault in different legal jurisdictions may be different, and this will be reflected in the total number of incidents recorded.

* Different levels of reporting and traditions of policing: This relates closely to levels of development in a society, most clearly reflected in accessibility to the police. Factors such as the number of police stations or telephones impact upon reporting levels. The level of insurance coverage in a community is also a key indicator of the likelihood of citizens approaching the police as their claim for compensation may require such notification. In addition, in societies where the police are or have been mistrusted by the population, most specifically during periods of authoritarian rule, reporting levels are likely to be lower than in cases where the police are regarded as important members of the community.

* Different social, economic and political contexts: Comparing crime data from societies that are fundamentally different may ignore key issues present in the society that impact upon levels of reporting. For example, different social norms in some countries may make it difficult for women to report cases of rape or sexual abuse, while in others, women are encouraged to come forward. The level of insurance coverage in a community is also a key indicator of the likelihood of citizens approaching the police as their claim for compensation may require such notification. In addition, in societies where the police are or have been mistrusted by the population, most specifi cally during periods of authoritarian rule, reporting levels are likely to be lower than in cases where the police are regarded as important members of the community.

The International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS) is perhaps a more sensitive and accurate measure of crime - and arguably offers a picture of how the public views the criminal justice system - but is currently limited to a few, mainly industrialised, countries so these data are not included.

Where data are not present, The Economist Intelligence Unit's analysts have estimated figures based on their deep knowledge of each country. All the figures for homicides per 100,000 people have been banded as:

1=0-1.9, 2=2-5.9, 3=6-9.9, 4=10-19.9, 5= >20

Number of jailed population per 100,000 people

Figures are from the International Centre for Prison Studies, King's College, University of London and are compiled from a variety of sources. In almost all cases the original source is the national prison administration of the country concerned, or else the Ministry responsible for the prison administration. The International Centre for Prison Studies warns that because prison population rates (per 100,000 of the national population) are based on estimates of the national population they should not be regarded as precise. Comparability is compromised by different practice in different countries, for example with regard to whether all pre-trial detainees and juveniles are held under the authority of the prison administration, and also whether the prison administration is responsible for psychiatrically ill offenders and offenders being detained for treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction. People held in custody are usually omitted from national totals if they are not under the authority of the prison administration.

The data have been banded:

1=0-69, 2=70-139, 3=140-209, 4=210-279, 5=> 280

Ease of access to weapons of minor destruction

A qualitative assessment of the accessibility of small arms and light weapons (SALW) is ranked 1-5 (very low–very high) by EIU analysts. Very limited access is scored if the country has developed policy instruments and best practices, such as fi rearm licences, strengthening of export controls, codes of conduct, fi rearms or ammunition marking. Very easy access, on the contrary, is characterized by the lack of regulation of civilian possession, ownership, storage, carriage and use of firearms.

Respect for human rights

Mark Gibney and Matthew Dalton, from the University of North Carolina, have coded countries on a 1 to 5 scale according to their level of terror the previous year, based on the description provided in the Amnesty International Yearbook (in this case the 2007 Yearbook, referring to 2006 data). There is
an additional index coded on a 1 to 5 scale based on a close analysis of Country Reports from the US State Department. Amnesty International scores have been used where available, with US State Department scores used to fi ll missing data.

- Level 1 is scored if the country operates under a secure rule of law. People are not imprisoned for their views and torture is rare or exceptional. Politically-motivated murders are extremely rare;
- Level 2 points that there is a limited amount of imprisonment for non-violent political activity. However, few persons are affected and torture and beatings are exceptional. Politically-motivated murder is rare;
- Level 3. Imprisonment for political activity is more extensive. Politically-motivated executions or other political murders and brutality are common. Unlimited detention, with or without a trial, for political views is also commonplace;
- Level 4. The practices of level 3 affect a larger portion of the population and murders, disappearances and torture are a common part of life. In spite of its pervasiveness, on this level political terror affects those who interest themselves in politics;
- Level 5. The terrors characteristic of level 4 countries encompass the whole population at level 5. The leaders of these societies place no limits on the means or thoroughness with which they pursue personal or ideological goals.

Number of deaths from organised conflict (internal)

UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Dataset records the number of battle deaths per conflict, defined as: "a contested incompatibility that concerns government and/or territory where the use of armed force between two parties, of which at least one is the government of a state, results in at least 25 battle-related deaths in a year". EIU analysts, then, have clustered the figures available for 2005 and 2006 in bands:

1=0-24, 2=25-999, 3=1000-4999, 4=5000-9999, 5=> 10000

The separate elements of the definition are as follows:
(1) Use of armed force: use of arms in order to promote the parties' general position in the conflict, resulting in deaths.
(1.1) Arms: any material means, e.g. manufactured weapons but also sticks, stones, fire, water, etc.
(2) 25 deaths: a minimum of 25 battle-related deaths per year and per incompatibility.
(3) Party: a government of a state or any opposition organization or alliance of opposition organizations.
(3.1) Government: the party controlling the capital of the state.
(3.2) Opposition organization: any non-governmental group of people having announced a name for their group and using armed force.
(4) State: a state is
(4.1) an internationally recognized sovereign government controlling a specified territory, or
(4.2) an internationally unrecognized government controlling a specified territory whose sovereignty is not disputed by another internationally recognized sovereign government previously controlling the same territory.
(5) Incompatibility concerning government and/or territory the incompatibility, as stated by the parties, must concern government and/or territory.
(5.1) Incompatibility: the stated generally incompatible positions.
(5.2) Incompatibility concerning government: incompatibility concerning type of political system, the replacement of the central government or the change of its composition.
Incompatibility concerning territory: incompatibility concerning the status of a territory, e.g. the change of the state in control of a certain territory (interstate conflict), secession or autonomy (intrastate conflict).

Aggregate number of heavy weapons per 100,000 people

The BICC Weapon Holdings Database contains figures for four weapon categories: armoured vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft, major fighting ships. The numbers of weapons in these categories have been indexed, with 1996 as the fixed base year. Holdings are those of government forces and do not include holdings of armed opposition groups. Weapon systems in storage are also not included. Indices for groups are directly calculated from the aggregated numbers of holdings of heavy weapons, as follows:

1=0-199, 2=200-999, 3=1000-2999, 4=3000-6999, 5=> 7000

Number of external and internal conflicts fought: 2000-05

Source: the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), Uppsala University, Sweden

The separate elements of the definition are as follows:
(1) Use of armed force: use of arms in order to promote the parties' general position in the conflict, resulting in deaths.
(1.1) Arms: any material means, e.g. manufactured weapons but also sticks, stones, fire, water, etc.
(2) 25 deaths: a minimum of 25 battle-related deaths per year and per incompatibility.
(3) Party: a government of a state or any opposition organization or alliance of opposition organizations.
(3.1) Government: the party controlling the capital of the state.
(3.2) Opposition organization: any non-governmental group of people having announced a name for their group and using armed force.
(4) State: a state is
(4.1) an internationally recognized sovereign government controlling a specified territory, or
(4.2) an internationally unrecognized government controlling a specified territory whose sovereignty is not disputed by another internationally recognized sovereign government previously controlling the same territory.
(5) Incompatibility concerning government and/or territory the incompatibility, as stated by the parties, must concern government and/or territory.
(5.1) Incompatibility: the stated generally incompatible positions.
(5.2) Incompatibility concerning government: incompatibility concerning type of political system, the replacement of the central government or the change of its composition.
Incompatibility concerning territory: incompatibility concerning the status of a territory, e.g. the change of the state in control of a certain territory (interstate conflict), secession or autonomy (intrastate conflict).

Estimated number of deaths from organised conflict (external)

Source: the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), Uppsala University, Sweden

The separate elements of the definition are as follows:
(1) Use of armed force: use of arms in order to promote the parties' general position in the conflict, resulting in deaths.
(1.1) Arms: any material means, e.g. manufactured weapons but also sticks, stones, fire, water, etc.
(2) 25 deaths: a minimum of 25 battle-related deaths per year and per incompatibility.
(3) Party: a government of a state or any opposition organization or alliance of opposition organizations.
(3.1) Government: the party controlling the capital of the state.
(3.2) Opposition organization: any non-governmental group of people having announced a name for their group and using armed force.
(4) State: a state is
(4.1) an internationally recognized sovereign government controlling a specified territory, or
(4.2) an internationally unrecognized government controlling a specified territory whose sovereignty is not disputed by another internationally recognized sovereign government previously controlling the same territory.
(5) Incompatibility concerning government and/or territory the incompatibility, as stated by the parties, must concern government and/or territory.
(5.1) Incompatibility: the stated generally incompatible positions.
(5.2) Incompatibility concerning government: incompatibility concerning type of political system, the replacement of the central government or the change of its composition.
Incompatibility concerning territory: incompatibility concerning the status of a territory, e.g. the change of the state in control of a certain territory (interstate conflict), secession or autonomy (intrastate conflict).