Each year, the Institute for Economics and Peace releases the Global Peace Index. This is a study of 163 independent nations and territories around the world that uses indicators to determine which nations are the most dangerous, as well as which are the most peaceful.
There are a total of 23 indicators used to compile this list. These indicators are split across three categories: militarization, safety and security, and domestic and international conflict.
The 2020 study was recently released, showing the most peaceful countries in the world. At the top of this list is Iceland. This isn’t a surprise, as this nation has taken the top spot for ten years in a row. Features that stand out in this country that make it the most peaceful are low crime rates and “non-existent” tension among the economic classes.
According to the Global Peace Index, New Zealand is the second-most peaceful country worldwide. New Zealand has remained in the top four most peaceful nations for the last ten years. In Iceland and New Zealand, police do not carry personal firearms, as they do not see a need to. Violent crime is low in New Zealand; however, theft is relatively common, especially for tourists.
The third most peaceful country in the nation is Portugal, followed by Austria, which has been in the top 4 since 2014. Austria scores high in areas such as income, housing, and jobs. However, a crackdown of migrants, rallies from protestors, and the Freedom Party have all impacted the peacefulness of this nation.
The remaining top 10 nations that are considered the most peaceful in the world, according to the 2020 Global Peace Index are:
- Iceland
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Austria
- Denmark
- Canada
- Singapore
- Czech Republic
- Japan
- Switzerland