Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, a country ranked the safest and most peaceful since 2008 | Credit: Palmi Gudmundsson/Shutterstock
In a year marked by conflict, five nations continue to rank among the world’s most peaceful. Residents reveal how policies and culture shape daily life and create a sense of calm.
Ranked number one since 2008, Iceland remains the world’s most peaceful nation, leading across all three domains: safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation. Though marked by conflict throughout the late 20th Century, today’s Ireland continues to put peace at the forefront. This year, New Zealand moved up two spots to number three, thanks to improvements in the safety and security domain as well as fewer demonstrations and terrorism-related impacts. Austria slipped one place this year to fourth but still ranked high across all domains. Ireland and Austria have adopted a constitutionally mandated policy of neutrality, preventing them from joining military alliances like NATO.
Top 10 countries in the 2025 Global Peace Index
- Iceland
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Singapore
- Portugal
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Finland
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