Press Release
26 March 2008
Jane’s Announces the World’s Top 10 Most Unstable Entities
New service tracks the stability of every country, territory and political entity in the world
BRACKNELL, ENGLAND (26 March, 2008) -- Jane’s, an IHS company (NYSE:IHS) has launched a new online service that assesses the stability of every country, territory and political entity around the world. Jane’s Country Risk Ratings uses multiple weighted factors affecting country stability in distinct categories: political, social, economic, external and military and security.
“Today’s global climate of insecurity and terrorism requires an in-depth, independent analysis of stability around the world,” said Christian Le Mière, Managing Editor of Jane’s Country Risk. “These ratings assess stability and allow comparisons on an entity-by-entity or regional basis, which is valuable for business and defense organizations’ decision making.”
The inaugural Jane’s Country Risk Ratings, published this month, list the 10 least stable entities, with number one being the least stable, as:
1. Gaza and West Bank
2. Somalia
3. Sudan
4. Afghanistan
5. Cote d'Ivoire
6. Haiti
7. Zimbabwe
8. Chad
9. Democratic Republic of Congo
10. Central African Republic
The Gaza Strip and West Bank—divided between two rival governments for more than a year—ranks as the most unstable entity in the world. A lack of control over its borders, frequent incursions of its territory by Israel, low levels of law and order, poor domestic security and worsening public health combine to place it in the top spot.
Iraq is not among the ten most unstable countries. It ranks 22nd from the least stable entity. Although it suffers from high levels of daily, non-state organised violence, the country’s rating is bolstered by other elements that contribute to stability. Its government is relatively secure and maintains control over areas of its territory, its economy is more or less resilient and the population remains relatively healthy. Stability in Afghanistan was shown to be far more elusive, according to the ratings. It currently ranks as the fourth most unstable entity in the world.
The Jane’s Country Risk Ratings will be reviewed each month and updated as necessary. In addition, major news events, with either global or specifically domestic implications, will prompt extra ratings changes.
Jane’s Country Risk Ratings are available online through Jane’s Military and Security Assessments Intelligence Centre at http://jmsa.janes.com.
About Jane’s Information Group
Jane’s, an IHS company (NYSE: IHS), is the leading open source information provider and conference organiser on defence, international risk and national security to governments, militaries, industries and academia around the globe. Jane’s is headquartered in London, and also has offices in Alexandria, Virginia; Singapore; Tokyo; Dubai; and Sydney, Australia. For more information, please visit our award-winning website, www.janes.com.
About IHS (www.ihs.com)
IHS (NYSE: IHS) is a leading global source of critical information and insight for customers in a broad range of industries. Our customer product and service solutions span four major areas of information: energy, product lifecycle management, environmental and security. By focusing on our customers first, we deliver data and expertise that enable innovative and successful decision-making. Customers range from governments and multinational companies to smaller companies and technical professionals in more than 180 countries. IHS has been in business since 1959 and employs more than 3,000 people in 35 locations around the world.
IHS is a registered trademark of IHS Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright © 2008 IHS Inc. All rights reserved.