Iraq has emerged as a more stable country than Afghanistan, according to a report published today.
The report by the British-based Jane's Information Group ranked Afghanistan as the world's third most-unstable country after the Gaza Strip and West Bank, and Somalia.
The United States failed to rank among the top tier of the world's most stable countries in the ratings, which measured 235 countries, territories and entities according to two-dozen stability factors.
Vatican City was ranked most stable, followed by Sweden, Luxembourg and Monaco. But Jane's judged the United States to be only the 22nd most stable country due to international drug trafficking and the proliferation of small arms within US society.
Christian Le Miere, managing editor of Jane's Country Risk, said Iraq has benefiting from several stabilizing factors including the world's highest number of international troops per capita, an economy buoyed by high oil prices and a sharp decline in violence.
"With the combination of international troops, the government can extend its will to any area under its administration," he said. "Compare that to Afghanistan, where the government has less control over its territory, the economy is made up by some estimates about 50 per cent from opium and has very little to draw on for resources."
Afghan violence has grown steadily over the last two years to the highest level since US-led forces ousted Taliban rule in 2001, despite the presence of 43,000 Nato-led troops.
But in Iraq, violence is reportedly down more than 60 per cent since last summer when the Bush administration completed its build-up of forces there.