The World’s 10 Most Peaceful Countries in 2025

Created by Australian philanthropist Steve Killelea in 2007, the Global Peace Index attempts to answer the question: What makes a country feel calm and safe? The report uses 23 key indicators, from political stability to military interests, to measure the peacefulness of countries across the globe. For travelers, it’s a handy tool for finding the places you’re likely to feel relaxed, calm, and safe visiting. The 2025 report ranked 163 countries (if you’re curious, the United States ranked No. 128), and these are the 10 most peaceful in the world.

10. Finland

This Northern European country has earned its place in the top 10 ranking of peaceful countries thanks to low crime rates, strong social safety nets, and a culture that places an emphasis on personal space. Trust in public institutions, social equality, and universal health care also help to create a strong foundation for peaceful everyday life in Finland. 

It’s also a fascinating place to visit. Helsinki, ranked No. 13 in the Global Liveability Index, is known for clean streets, leafy parks, and historic architecture, such as the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. Meanwhile, the northern Lapland region draws visitors with the promise of snowy landscapes and views of the northern lights, and Oulanka National Park is home to striking canyons and waterfalls with opportunities for hiking and kayaking.

9. Slovenia

Slovenia has maintained its 2024 ranking as the ninth-most-peaceful country, which reflects the country’s commitment to regional stability and strong domestic leadership. It’s recognized for having a safe society with minimal violent crime, stable politics, and limited military activity. 

Beyond these peaceful qualities, Slovenia offers many captivating destinations for visitors. Ljubljana, the charming capital, boasts a lively café culture, vast green spaces, and architecture that reflects its imperial past. In the northwest, Lake Bled dazzles with crystalline waters and a 15th-century island church. It’s sheltered within Triglav National Park, a place where bears, lynx, and wolves roam amid emerald valleys, lush mountain pastures, and mystical forests. 

8. Denmark

Denmark continues to be a strong advocate for peaceful living. Moreover, this Scandinavian country features regularly among the world’s happiest countries. This is, after all, the place that introduced the world to the concept of hygge. — taking time to be cozy and enjoy life’s pleasures, either alone or with others. 

Copenhagen, Denmark’s coastal capital, is also ranked as the world’s most livable city in 2025. Here, you’ll find locals cycling alongside canals and colorful buildings that evoke images of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales. To the west, Jutland welcomes with wild beaches and Legoland, and to the east, the island of Bornholm blends cliff-lined coastlines with medieval ruins and culinary delights.

7. Portugal

Portugal has steadily worked its way into the top 10 ranking of the world’s most peaceful countries, thanks to safer streets, stable governance, and a strong focus on community well-being. Its rise in the 2025 rankings reflects continued efforts to strengthen domestic security and nurture a welcoming environment for both residents and visitors. 

Averaging 300 days of sunshine a year, Portugal is a veritable year-round destination, especially for those who love to be outdoors. From the rugged Atlantic coast to the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and mountainous Serra da Estrela Nature Park, there’s a new adventure waiting at every turn. Cities like Lisbon and Porto are also vibrant cultural hubs, with historic architecture, lively nightlife, and loads of charm. 

6. Singapore

Singapore consistently ranks as the most peaceful country in Southeast Asia. Factors influencing this ranking include decades of neutrality, low crime, and political stability. With minimal domestic or international conflict, it’s a place where everyday life runs smoothly and travel feels effortless. 

For many travelers, the allure of this island city-state lies in its blend of urban life and nature. Beneath a futuristic skyline of glistening hotels and ritzy malls are ancient temples and multicultural neighborhoods such as Little India. Standouts of the Lion City include Gardens by the Bay, Clarke Quay’s riverside dining scene, and its international airport — ranked one of the world’s best. 

5. Switzerland

Perennially neutral Switzerland maintains a peaceful environment through political stability and an abstinence from international conflict. Its unique cultural fabric — German, French, Italian, and Romansh coexist as the four official languages — injects a harmonious, cosmopolitan aspect to daily life. 

And then there’s the country’s jaw-dropping natural wonders, from the snow-capped peaks of the Alps to the rolling vineyards of Lavaux and lakes of Geneva and Lucerne. Villages such as Stein am Rhein and Grindelwald are the epitome of storybook wonder, while the Bernina Express and Glacier Express promise once-in-a-lifetime alpine train journeys. 

4. Austria

Life in this central European nation is underpinned by strong safety measures, low militarization, and a stable political climate. Austria’s capital, Vienna, claimed the prize for the world’s most livable city for three consecutive years between 2022 and 2024. The city is famous for its Habsburg palaces, such as the Hofburg, and a cultural legacy bequeathed by the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, and Sigmund Freud.

Elsewhere in Austria, melodies of The Sound of Music echo around the medieval streets of Salzburg, while Tyrol’s ski resorts beckon powder hounds with pristine slopes.

3. New Zealand

Climbing up from fifth place in 2024, New Zealand leads the peace rankings in the Asia-Pacific region. It’s also one of only two non-European countries in the top 10. A commitment to Indigenous rights prevails in New Zealand, which respects and upholds a peace treaty established between British colonists and the Maori peoples in 1840. 

It’s also easy to find peace in nature in New Zealand, as outdoor culture is a defining aspect of the country’s identity. Fjords and glaciers, beaches and geothermal baths, mountains and winelands — New Zealand has it all at its fingertips. Whether you’re discovering Maori traditions at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, bungee jumping in Queenstown, or exploring the filming location for Middle-earth from The Lord of the Rings movies around Fiordland National Park, the opportunities for adventure are endless. 

2. Ireland

The Emerald Isle has maintained its second-place ranking in the Global Peace Index from 2024. This reflects falling political tensions and a stronger sense of safety among residents. The country has a long-standing neutrality, a low prison population, and well-functioning democratic institutions. 

Not only recognized for peace, Ireland is also world-famous for craic. Simply put, the term is about having fun, but it can also represent anything from news to gossip to sharing moments with others. Many visitors to Ireland are also lured by the vibrancy of Dublin and its ancient architecture, parks, and pubs. Step outside the capital to explore impossibly green hills and rugged coastlines, or visit historic castles and quaint rural villages. 

1. Iceland

For the 17th year running, Iceland has been crowned the world’s most peaceful country. Its high ranking is due to factors including low crime, minimal militarization, and high social trust. The remote Nordic island nation boasts the world’s oldest extant parliament and has never been involved in a full-scale war or armed invasion. (In fact, Iceland doesn’t maintain a standing army.) The country also ranked third on the 2025 list of the world’s happiest countries, as it did in 2023 and 2024. 

Adding to the peaceful atmosphere is a majestic landscape defined by lonely black-sand beaches, glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls. Visitors come here to soak in the Blue Lagoon thermal baths, chase the northern lights, and retrace viking history in Reykjavik.