The 20 Most Peaceful Countries in the World, Ranked

June 17, 2026

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The 20 Most Peaceful Countries in the World, Ranked

Amid worldwide conflicts and home tensions, some could really feel that the US just isn’t the most secure place to stay proper now. Whereas security generally is a subjective measure, that evaluation just isn’t solely off base: The US is ranked the 134th most peaceable nation on the earth — falling behind nations like Venezuela, Lebanon, and India —... Read More

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Amid worldwide conflicts and home tensions, some could really feel that the US just isn’t the most secure place to stay proper now.

Whereas security generally is a subjective measure, that evaluation just isn’t solely off base: The US is ranked the 134th most peaceable nation on the earth — falling behind nations like Venezuela, Lebanon, and India — within the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI).

A Gallup poll launched in October 2024 confirmed that 21% of polled Individuals expressed a need to maneuver overseas, up from 17% in 2023 and 10% in 2011. Some Individuals have thought of shifting abroad resulting from components comparable to crime rates, modern conflicts, work-life steadiness, the cost of living , and parenting values.

Nevertheless, Gallup additionally discovered that the US was probably the most desired vacation spot for residents of different nations.

The 2026 World Peace Index, which was launched in June, evaluated nations throughout three domains: ongoing conflicts, societal security and safety, and militarization.

For ongoing conflicts, the report checked out each “inside and exterior conflicts, in addition to their function and length of involvement.” Societal security and safety are evaluated by components comparable to murder charges, political terror, violent demonstrations, and perceptions of criminality. Lastly, the militarization area consists of a rustic’s military spending as a share of its GDP, weapons entry, and different components.

Listed here are the 20 most peaceable nations on the earth, in keeping with the 2026 World Peace Index.

20. Australia

Buildings in Melbourne, Australia. — Australia ranked on the earth’s high 15 nations in US Information & World Report’s rating.

Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: T34

Societal security and safety rank: 23

Militarization rank: 48

Australia was additionally ranked 14th in US Information & World Report’s best countries list, because of excessive scores in its well being, governance, and alternative metrics.

19. Latvia

Church and residential buildings in Riga, Latvia. — Latvia ranked 18th in societal security and safety.

Altug Galip/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 46

Societal security and safety rank: 18

Militarization rank: 51

Latvia was ranked the twelfth most peaceable nation in Western and Central Europe.

18. Mauritius

Aerial view of Port Louis, Mauritius. — Mauritius was tied for No. 1 within the ongoing home and worldwide battle area.

Lostsurf/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: T1

Societal security and safety rank: 60

Militarization rank: 9

The report discovered that Mauritius was probably the most peaceable nation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The island nation jumped up 11 spots from final yr’s rating and noticed enchancment throughout all three GPI domains, with the report citing peaceable political competitors and institutional stability as components.

17. Netherlands

Buildings in Amsterdam, Netherlands. — The Netherlands ranked throughout the high 20 nations within the ongoing home and worldwide battle area, in addition to in societal security and safety.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 16

Societal security and safety rank: 12

Militarization rank: 137

Regardless of rating seventeenth general, the Netherlands’ militarization rank of No. 137 is the bottom placement for any of the three components for any of the highest 20 nations.

The Netherlands has the seventeenth largest defense budget in the world, at $29.12 billion, in keeping with the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research.

16. Bhutan

Aerial view of buildings in Thimphu, Bhutan. — Bhutan ranked fourth within the militarization area.

KeongDaGreat/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 29

Societal security and safety rank: 38

Militarization rank: 4

Bhutan was probably the most peaceable nation in South Asia, in keeping with the report.

But the nation has the longest average workweek on the earth, with its residents working a mean of 54.4 hours per week as of 2024.

15. Hungary

Bridge and buildings in Budapest, Hungary. — Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, not too long ago misplaced re-election after serving for 20 years.

AlexAnton/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: T23

Societal security and safety rank: 31

Militarization rank: 13

After serving for a complete of 20 years, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán misplaced in his reelection bid in April. Hungary’s parliament not too long ago handed a constitutional modification that may impose eight-year time period limits on prime ministers, Politico reported.

Orbán stays a controversial determine for his assist for Russia and far-right positions, comparable to his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.

14. Canada

Buildings in Vancouver, Canada. — Canada’s societal security and safety area rating has dropped by 7.7% since 2008.

Felipe Sanchez/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: T34

Societal security and safety rank: T16

Militarization rank: 26

Whereas Canada was ranked probably the most peaceable nation in North and Central America, its rating within the societal security and safety area has dropped by 7.7% since 2008.

13. Czechia

Bridges over a river in Prague, Czechia. — Czechia was ranked the third-best nation for civic well being by US Information & World Report.

Dreamer4787/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 22

Societal security and safety rank: 22

Militarization rank: 19

Czechia was additionally ranked the third-best nation for civic well being by US Information & World Report, because of components comparable to sturdy freedom of expression and low earnings inequality.

12. Malaysia

Skyline in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. — Malaysia spends a comparatively low share of its GDP on army spending.

Afi Jamal/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 10

Societal security and safety rank: 47

Militarization rank: 2

Malaysia spent simply 1% of its GDP on army spending in 2024, per the World Bank. This compares with greater than 3% for the US.

11. Denmark

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - JANUARY 25: General view of Nyhavn, the old harbor of Copenhagen on Daily Life in Copenhagen on January 25, 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) — Denmark has been ranked on the high of quality-of-life rankings.

Stefano Guidi / Contributor

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 20

Societal security and safety rank: 5

Militarization rank: 120

Denmark has beforehand been ranked one of the best nation within the world for quality of life, based mostly on components comparable to price of dwelling, job markets, and healthcare high quality.

10. Japan

Tokyo, Japan, skyline — Japan has one of many highest life expectations on the earth.

Disguise’s photographs/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: T38

Societal security and safety rank: 4

Militarization rank: 75

Japan additionally constantly ranks among the many nations with the very best life expectancy on the earth.

9. Finland

Helsinki, Finland. — Finland has constantly been ranked because the happiest nation on the earth.

Getty Photos

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: T47

Societal security and safety rank: 2

Militarization rank: 53

Finland was ranked because the second-most peaceable nation on the societal security and safety area of the GPI.

In addition to being one of many 10 most peaceable locations on the earth, the nation has constantly ranked because the happiest country in the world, attracting expats in search of a higher quality of life.

8. Singapore

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 5

Societal security and safety rank: 6

Militarization rank: 126

Singapore, ranked second-most peaceable within the Asia-Pacific area by the GPI, is one other common vacation spot for American expats, together with these in search of entrepreneurial economies like Silicon Valley.

The nation was ranked within the high 10 within the societal security and safety and ongoing conflicts domains of the GPI, whereas falling within the decrease half of the militarization rank.

7. Portugal

A view of Camara de Lobos village Madeira, Portugal. — Portugal has emerged as a well-liked vacation spot for Individuals trying to relocate.

VW Pics/Getty Photos

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 13

Societal security and safety rank: 25

Militarization rank: 3

For Individuals trying to transfer overseas, Portugal has emerged as a latest favourite.

A survey of over 116,000 Individuals excited by shifting overseas in 2024 confirmed the nation as probably the most requested vacation spot, in keeping with Expatsi, a web site with assets for Individuals trying to relocate.

The nation was ranked third most peaceable on the earth within the GPI militarization area.

6. Austria

a photo of the Vienna, Austria Skyline. — Vienna has been ranked as probably the most livable metropolis and probably the greatest locations for expats.

Giannis Alexopoulos/NurPhoto by way of Getty Photos

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 11

Societal security and safety rank: 21

Militarization rank: 7

Austria has stayed within the high most peaceable nations because the GPI started measuring world peace in 2008.

Vienna, Austria’s capital, has beforehand been ranked the world’s most livable city and one of many best destinations for expats.

5. Eire

The beautiful landscape of Inis Mór Island, Ireland — Eire was ranked because the world’s fifth-most peaceable nation.

matthibcn/ Getty Photos

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 9

Societal security and safety rank: 15

Militarization rank: 8

Eire ranked throughout the high 10 nations within the militarization area and was the fifth most peaceable nation general.

Eire, recognized for its gorgeous landscapes and cultural heritage, has additionally been a standard vacation spot for Americans looking to move.

4. Slovenia

canal running through a city in Slovenia — Slovenia was the sixth-most peaceable nation by way of militarization.

TTstudio/Shutterstock

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 19

Societal security and safety rank: 9

Militarization rank: 6

Slovenia, first girl Melania Trump‘s home country, ranked sixth most peaceable within the GPI militarization area, which considers components comparable to army expenditure and weapons exports.

The nation is commonly categorized as a hidden gem in Europe for vacationers, because of its stunning landscapes.

3. Switzerland

Aerial view of the Basel medieval old town with its cathedral along the Rhine river with modern officel buildings in the background, in Switzerland — Switzerland homes Geneva, which has been referred to as the “Peace Capital” for years.

@DidierMarti /Getty Images

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 6

Societal security and safety rank: 8

Militarization rank: 25

Housing Geneva, the worldwide “Peace Capital,” Switzerland ranked within the high 10 most peaceable nations within the ongoing conflicts and societal security and safety GPI domains.

Quality of life has been one of many components driving expats to maneuver there in recent times.

2. New Zealand

View over Queenstown, New Zealand. — New Zealand was ranked probably the most peaceable nation within the Asia-Pacific area.

Matteo Colombo/Getty

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 4

Societal security and safety rank: 14

Militarization rank: 11

New Zealand ranked as probably the most peaceable nation within the Asia-Pacific region, and acquired one of many high rankings within the ongoing conflicts area.

New Zealand transplants have cited its family-friendly cities, pure magnificence, and outside actions as among the causes they love the nation.

1. Iceland

A road in Skógar, Southern Iceland. — Iceland was ranked the world’s most peaceable nation.

Marco Bottigelli/Getty Photos

Ongoing home and worldwide battle rank: 1

Societal security and safety rank: 3

Militarization rank: 1

Iceland was named probably the most peaceable nation for the nineteenth consecutive yr. It ranked first within the ongoing home and worldwide battle and militarization domains of the GPI rating, nevertheless it’s additionally one of many world’s most expensive nations.

For Americans looking to relocate overseas, Iceland gives the very best degree of security, in addition to breathtaking landscapes.

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