MAPS: 4 different ways of looking at risk in the world

Different countries face different problems.

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Some nations struggle with security issues, while others are crippled by ineffective governments.

With that in mind, the Economist Intelligence Unit assessed risk across 180 countries around the world in terms of various indicators.

We put together world maps from the EIU that present risk scores for several different factors, as well as one for overall risk.

North Korea
A soldier in Pyongyang, North Korea.
REUTERS/Bobby Yip

Check them out below.

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Somalia is the most risky country in terms of security, followed by Syria and Iraq.

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The Economist Intelligence Unit

Somalia has been struggling to rebuild itself after 25 years of civil war, during which the country was without a formal parliament. 

Meanwhile, Iraq has seen increased violence because of the Islamic State, and Syria continues to be plagued by a civil war.

Source: EIU

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In macroeconomic terms, however, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan are the most risky.

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The Economist Intelligence Unit

Iran is the wild card on the world stage as investors, politicians, and regular citizens anxiously await sanctions relief. Additionally, everyone's unsure what the return of Iranian oil means for the markets.

Meanwhile, North Korea continues to be largely closed off from the rest of the world, and the extremely poor Sudan lost approximately three-fourths of its oil production after South Sudan seceded in 2011.

Source: EIU

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Somalia is also the most risky in terms of government effectiveness, followed by Syria and Turkmenistan.

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The Economist Intelligence Unit

Somalia's president is facing accusations of corruption. Most recently, more than 90 Somali lawmakers "lodged a vote of no confidence in President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, accusing him of violating the constitution," according to a report by Bloomberg.

Meanwhile Turkmenistan's leader granted himself unlimited power and misuses the revenues from the nation's vast energy reserves.

Source: EIU

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Overall, civil-war plagued Syria is the most risky country, according to the EIU analysis.

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The Economist Intelligence Unit

In 2011, anti-government protests in Syria turned violent, and then escalated into a "full-scale war." More than 200,000 Syrians have died in the conflict, and over 11 million have been forced out of their homes, according to data from the BBC.

More recently, the situation has "mushroomed into a brutal proxy war that has drawn in regional and world powers," according to the BBC. Iran and Russia have supported Assad's regime, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the US, the UK, and France have supported the Sunni-dominated opposition.

Source: EIU, BBC

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And now take a look at which OPEC nations are "most at risk for a meltdown."

venezuela oil
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez takes a sample of crude during his weekly broadcast at a nationalized oil field at Orinoco's belt in the southern strip of the eastern Orinoco River, February 17, 2008.
REUTERS/Miraflores Palace

 

Here's what the 'spectrum of pain' looks like for the 12 members of OPEC »

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