The world’s safest country 17 years running that’s a European winter wonderland | World | News
A stunning European country has been named the safest place on Earth for a remarkable 17th year in a row. The “land of fire and ice” has once again topped the prestigious Global Peace Index (GPI), retaining its title as the world’s most peaceful country every year since 2008.
Despite recent headlines dominated by spectacular volcanic eruptions, Iceland continues to set the gold standard for low crime, political stability and social cohesion. The 2025 rankings, which evaluate nearly every country on 23 different factors, including violent crime and military spending, confirmed that this chill resort continues to stand out in a league of its own. In fact, the gap between top tier and second place, currently held by the Republic of Ireland, is as wide as the gap between second and 10th.
Each year, the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) produces its GPI, which ranks 163 independent states and territories, covering approximately 99.7% of the world’s population, by their level of peacefulness. The 2025 GPI found that global peace is generally in decline, with more countries increasing their levels of militarization, conflicts increasing, and economic uncertainty increasing.
However, this country, known for a unique culture where police do not carry guns and parents leave their babies to sleep in strollers on the street, has become the ultimate “bucket list” destination for solo travelers and families seeking complete peace of mind.
Although the top spot remains firmly held, the rest of the top 10 is dominated by European countries and high-performing Asia-Pacific countries. Ireland and Austria rounded out the podium in second and third places respectively, due to their political stability and low level of internal conflict. New Zealand maintained its status as the most peaceful country in the Pacific in fourth place, while Singapore entered the top five for the first time.
- Iceland
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Singapore
- Portugal
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Finland
Elsewhere in the world, five countries recorded significant improvements in their rankings due to increases in peacefulness scores. Azerbaijan rose 17 places, Gambia rose 16 places, Saudi Arabia and Peru rose 14 places each, and Uganda’s ranking rose 12 places.
At the other end of the spectrum, the 2025 Global Peace Index highlights the devastating impact of ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises. Russia is now officially ranked as the least peaceful country in the world. Just above it, the lingering effects of the invasion of second-to-last Ukraine caused both countries to decline due to excessive militarization and heavy casualties.
They are followed by Sudan, which is gripped by a devastating civil war and widespread lawlessness, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where regional militia violence continues to displace millions. Yemen, which is in the bottom five, is mired in one of the world’s most serious humanitarian and political crises, despite the slight improvement in the rankings.
