Violence in Bahrain cost the national economy $6.6 billion last year, according to a new report.

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) estimated this was the equivalent of almost $5,000 per person, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It added that the cost of violence to Bahrain's economy was the fifth highest per capita in the world.

“The economic impact of containing and dealing with the consequences of Bahrain's levels of violence was estimated to cost the national economy $6.6 billion in 2014,” said the think tank, which has offices in New York, Sydney and Mexico.

“This is equivalent to 10.7 per cent of Bahrain's GDP, or $4,937 per person.

“The cost of violence to the economy in Bahrain is the 80th highest total in the world - and the fifth highest per capita.”

Radical anti-government groups have waged a campaign of violence in Bahrain since a failed uprising in 2011, planting explosives and targeting police.

Several of those responsible are alleged to have links to Iran and 57 members of an alleged terrorist cell were handed jail sentences of 10 to 25 years last Thursday for planning attacks on high-profile targets.

Another cell, Al Ashtar Brigade, was dismantled on June 2 and 14 alleged members are on trial accused of receiving training from Iran's proxy Hizbollah in Iraq and orchestrating attacks on police.

In its newly released Global Peace Index (GPI), the IEP ranked Bahrain 107th out of 162 countries for its levels of peacefulness.

Despite opposition violence the country is considered the 10th most peaceful country in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), out of 19 countries included.

The index measures peacefulness based on ongoing domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society and militarisation.

Qatar is considered the most peaceful GCC country and is placed 30th globally, followed by Kuwait at 33 and UAE at 49.

However, the Mena region's level of peacefulness is now the lowest it has been since 2008.

In the index Iceland was listed as the most peaceful country in the world, followed by Denmark and Austria.

Syria was the least peaceful country, followed by Iraq and Afghanistan. - TradeArabia News Service