by PeaceRep
News PA-X

New PA-X Data Report Highlights Peace Agreement Trends and Insights in 2023

PeaceRep has released a new data report sharing insights into global peace agreements signed in 2023. These agreements were added to Version 8 of the PA-X Peace Agreements Database as part of its recent expansion.

A useful resource for peacebuilders and researchers alike, the data report summarises highlights from Version 8 of PA-X, including the characteristics of agreements in 2023 and their contents, gender provisions, local agreements, ongoing peace processes, and analysis of China as a third-party actor.

Key takeaways for 2023

With the number of peace agreements in 2023 primarily driven by the Colombian peace process, the data report reveals that the number of peace agreements signed each year is continuing to decline. This downward trend, along with an increased proportion of ceasefire and implementation agreements, calls for further interrogation of the changing nature and characteristics of peace processes.

Thirty-one (excluding local) agreements were signed in 2023. Of these 31 agreements:

  • The Colombian peace process accounted for 68% of agreements
  • 87% dealt with intrastate conflicts within a state’s borders (27 agreements)
  • 42% were ceasefire agreements (compared to an average of 19% since 1990)
  • 26% included reference to women, girls, gender, or sexual violence
Chart showing topics featured in the 2023 peace agreements.
Figure 6 of the report shows the range of topics covered by peace agreements in 2023, with 90% of agreements including provisions relating to the security sector.

The report also examines China’s role as a third-party signatory after China mediated an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023. This development reveals a shift in global diplomatic dynamics, with the complex roles of international mediators requiring further research.

Chart showing peace agreements with gender provisions per year
The report highlights trends in peace agreements since 1990, including the proportion of agreements with a gender provision, as shown above.

The full data report explores these topics in greater detail, including data on gender provisions in peace agreements and the four local agreements from 2023 included in PA-X V8.

About PA-X

In 2024, PeaceRep launched Version 8 of the PA-X Peace Agreements Database, adding 52 new agreements and enhancing the database’s accessibility and search functionality.

As a cornerstone of PeaceRep’s PeaceTech work, the PA-X Peace Agreements Database is the world’s most comprehensive collection of peace agreements. PA-X data underpins a range of digital tools to support research, policy and practice, including visualisations, trackers, interactive timelines, infographics, and a mobile app.

Read the data report: Peace Agreements in 2023: Insights from the PA-X Database

Explore the updated ‘Messy Peace Processes’ visualisation, now including PA-X V8 data

Explore the PA-X Peace Agreements Database, Version 8