Iceland is ranked as the most peaceful country in the world, a title it has held consistently since 2008 according to the Global Peace Index. It leads in safety, security, and low militarization, often cited for its high community trust and low crime rates.
In 2025, the global peace index score for the United Kingdom was 1.63, implying that the UK is a slightly more peaceful country than in 2024 when the score was 1.64.
Iceland is consistently ranked as the safest country in the world, holding the top spot on the Global Peace Index (GPI) for many years, including 2024 and 2025, due to its low crime, lack of military, political stability, and strong community focus. Other top contenders often include Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Denmark, depending on the specific report's criteria, with Singapore also ranking highly for personal safety.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country in 2022, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark and Austria.
UK: Violent crime rates are generally lower than in the U.S., especially when it comes to gun violence. The UK has strict gun control laws, resulting in far fewer firearm-related incidents. U.S.: The U.S. experiences higher rates of homicide and aggravated assault, largely due to the prevalence of firearms.
From 2017 to 2025 it has been the sixth-largest national economy in the world measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP), tenth-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP), and about 21st by nominal GDP per capita, constituting 3.38% of world GDP and 2.13% by purchasing power parity (PPP).
If you are looking for the safest places to live in the UK right now, recent crime-index data points you towards elegant market and cathedral cities such as Harrogate, Wokingham, Chester, Sevenoaks and Horsham, along with low-crime areas like St Albans, Salisbury, Windsor, Guildford, Lincoln, Norwich and Bath.
🇲🇾 Malaysia – 57.5 Australia tops the global relaxation rankings, offering pristine wilderness, wide-open spaces, and peaceful environments into the perfect escape.
Key takeaways. The safest countries in the world are Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, and Finland, according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI).
The report primarily uses data from the Gallup World Poll. As of March 2025, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for eight years in a row.
A new WorldAtlas ranking puts Canada at number 1 on the list of the top 20 most loved countries on the planet, ahead of every U.S. and European destination.
Iceland. Topping the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world. This island nation has exceptionally low crime rates, no standing military, and a strong sense of community. It experiences few internal conflicts and almost no violent demonstrations.
Other remote or insulated countries on the list include Chile, Iceland, Fiji, and Tuvalu—nations with minimal military entanglements and located far from major geopolitical hotspots. Interestingly, Greenland (part of Denmark) also appears, thanks to its remoteness and sparse population.
