I'm finding it hard to source the exact quote, but I remember reading somewhere something about this being the most peaceful time in history - and that it's getting better every year.
I realise it's a very broad question, possible even too broad to address properly, but is that semi-quote true?
To make it a little easier, maybe I should granulate it a little. Is it true for, say, a citizen of Germany? What about citizens of Nigeria, Kiev, and Beijing?
Were you perhaps reading (or reading about) The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker? It makes an argument (or tries to at least) that violence has been in constant decline throughout history. The FAQ has a section on that book.