Planning a trip? For most people, feeling safe in the destination they're visiting is vital when selecting where to go.
The Institute of Economics and Peace has released its annual Global Peace Index, a data-driven measurement of global peacefulness. Steve Killelea, founder and executive chairman at the Institute for Economics and Peace, told Conde Nast Traveller, “We all want to relax when we're on holiday, and there is no better place to do so than in countries that are free of violence. This is one of the reasons why each of the top 10 most peaceful countries is also some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.” Adding: “This should show governments that peace comes with substantial economic benefits, as well as improving the health and well-being of their citizens. So, next time you consider where to go on holiday, why don't you vote with your feet by choosing a peaceful country?"
Below, you’ll find the 10 safest countries in the world, along with each country’s score (one = most peaceful; five = least peaceful).
10. Switzerland - Score: 1.339
9. Japan - Score: 1.336
8. Slovenia - Score: 1.334
Slovenia broke into the top 10 for the first time in 2020 and managed to stay there since, thanks to extremely low crime rates and terrorism risk.
7. Portugal - Score: 1.333
6. Singapore - Score: 1.332
Singapore is a new entry on the list.
5. Austria - Score: 1.316
4. New Zealand - Score: 1.313
New Zealand is down two places from the 2022 listing, but it's still the safest country in the Asia-Pacific region.
3. Ireland - Score: 1.312
Ireland has jumped five places since last year. In 2022, the country was a new addition to the top 10. This means that all of the top three safest countries of the world this year are in Europe.
2. Denmark - Score: 1.31
1. Iceland - Score: 1.124
Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world for the 16th year in a row. It's held the position since the inception of the index in 2008. The Nordic nation has some of the lowest military spending and international conflict rates in the world (not having any shared borders helps).
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