The world’s most peaceful countries

The Global Peace Index is an annual report issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace since 2007.

Internal and external measurements are used to determine the peacefulness of a country or of a certain region.

In spite the world seems to become increasingly more violent, there still are countries so peaceful and calm that they go by often unnoticed.

Japan

Ranking third on the global economy scale, Japan, since the end of World War II, has been rather peaceful with little to no internal conflict and low crime rates. Their culture is deeply rooted in their traditions. Security is maintained by local forces and the country does not have a professional military since the end of WWII.

Switzerland

The Swiss have one of the world’s most stable governments as their political culture relies on transparency. Famous for its neutrality in regional and international political issues, Switzerland still maintains very good diplomatic connections with several of the world’s leading nations.

Czech Republic

After it gained its independence from the soviet bloc in 1989 and split with Slovakia, the Czech Republic’s main focus became constructing a stable capitalist economy and make the country a profitable climate for investment.

Belgium

You might think that being the home of the European Union and NATO makes you a certain target for terrorist activities and other threats. However Belgium, with its medieval cities, castles and ferric scenery is one of the safest places in the whole world. The small country has some of the lowest homicide and imprisonment rates.

Iceland

During the last years, Iceland reached the headlines only when its ice banks collapsed. The country has kept away from the main conflicts of the world and mostly keeps to itself.

Sweden

In spite of being one of the world’s biggest weapon exporters, Sweden has not been in any war, nor has it taken part in any combat for over two hundred years.

Slovenia

Slovenia is such a peaceful country that not even the United Nations peacekeeping missions don’t have anything to fund there. The Institute for Economics and Peace graded it as the lowest in number of police and security officers, level of perceived criminality in society, number of organized internal conflicts, violent protests, and number of internal and external wars fought.

Singapore

After obtaining its independence in 1965, Singapore has put serious amounts of energy into establishing and maintaining great social, peaceful, economic and cordial political relations with all countries. It is also a promoter of international cooperation.

Norway

Although the Anders Behring Breivik mass murder incident greatly stained the country’s reputation, Noway is, in fact, a very safe place to live with the highest level of human development on a global scale. Its government places peace among the country’s top priorities.

Denmark

Although the country has been under Nazi occupation in World War II, the Danish did not fight. People who live in Denmark focus more on economic issues than on armed conflicts and remain a friendly, open and helpful people.