A stunning European nation has been named the safest place on Earth for a remarkable 17th consecutive year. The “land of fire and ice” has once again topped the prestigious Global Peace Index (GPI), retaining its crown 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 harmony. The 2025 ranking, which evaluates nearly every nation on 23 different factors, including violent crime and military spending, confirmed that this chilly holiday hotspot continues to stand out in a league of its own. In fact, the gap between the top spot 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 & Peace (IEP) produces its GPI, which ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness, covering approximately 99.7% of the world’s population. The 2025 GPI found that, overall, global peacefulness is in decline, with more countries increasing their levels of militarisation, increasing conflict and rising economic uncertainty.
However, known for a unique culture where police do not carry guns, and parents leave babies to sleep in prams on the street, the nation has become the ultimate “bucket list” destination for solo travellers and families seeking total peace of mind.
While the top spot remains firmly held, the rest of the top ten is dominated by European nations and high-performing Asia-Pacific states. Ireland and Austria round out the podium in second and third place, respectively, celebrated for their political stability and low levels of internal conflict. New Zealand follows in fourth, maintaining its status as the most peaceful nation in the Pacific, while Singapore has climbed into the top five for the first time.
- Iceland
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Singapore
- Portugal
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Finland
Elsewhere in the world, five countries made significant improvements in their rankings due to an increase in their peacefulness score. Azerbaijan rose 17 places, The Gambia by 16, Saudi Arabia and Peru both leapt up by 14, and Uganda’s ranking improved by 12.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the 2025 Global Peace Index highlights the devastating impact of ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises. Russia is now officially ranked as the least peaceful country on Earth. The continuing fallout from its invasion of Ukraine, which sits just above it in second-to-last place, has seen both nations plummet due to extreme militarisation and heavy casualties.
These are followed by Sudan, which remains gripped by a devastating civil war and widespread lawlessness, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where regional militia violence continues to displace millions. Rounding out the bottom five is Yemen, which, despite a slight improvement in rank, remains mired in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian and political crises.
