Study shows world's safest countries to travel to

09-07-23

It is a privilege to walk down the street with peace of mind and confidence. So much so that, for our holidays, we tend to avoid the list of dangerous countries and always try to head for the safest places in the world. And thanks to the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), we know what they are.

Each year, the IEP launches the Global Peace Index (GPI), the most comprehensive analysis to date of changes in world peace and its economic value, as well as providing keys to developing peaceful societies. This ranking covers 99.7% of the world's population, and is calculated using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from well-respected sources, measuring the state of peace in three domains: the level of social security and protection, the extent of ongoing national and international conflict, and the degree of local militarisation.

From all this, we can learn that, unfortunately, the average level of global peace has deteriorated for the ninth consecutive year (by 0.03%), with 84 countries registering an improvement and 79 worsening. "This shows that the deteriorations were greater than the improvements, as increases in post-COVID-19 civil unrest and political instability remain high, while regional and global conflicts accelerate," according to the analysis.

Indeed, it finds "unexpected" data, such as that more people have died from armed conflict in Ethiopia this past year than in Ukraine, with both countries, along with Myanmar, Israel and South Africa, seeing the largest increases in conflict levels in 2022.

The study states that "conflicts are becoming increasingly internationalised, with 91 countries now involved in some form of external conflict, up from 58 in 2008". However, terrorist attacks are down from that year: 70 countries recorded none in 2021.

Despite the global climate tending towards pessimism, there are countries where everything seems to be going swimmingly year after year. One of these is Iceland, which has held the title of the world's most peaceful country since 2008, the first year in which the GPI measurements were taken.

In the top ten, it is followed by seven European countries, but not Spain, which ranks 32nd out of 163. In that space is, for the fifth year in a row, Afghanistan, beaten directly by Yemen, Syria, Russia and South Sudan.

And now, without further ado, we announce the ten most peaceful countries in the world, those where you won't have to worry about anything during your trip.

1. Iceland

Iceland remains the world's most peaceful country, despite a 4% deterioration in its overall score as a result of an increase in the murder and terrorism rate. This is the first year that terrorist activity has taken place in the country, and as a result, four people have been arrested and charged with planning attacks on the Icelandic parliament and several of its politicians.

Children are more than welcome in Copenhagen.

2. Denmark

The fact that Denmark also scores high in global happiness rankings (this year, it also holds second place in the World Happiness Report) is directly related to its high level of peace.

3. Ireland

Ireland probably wouldn't be the first country that would spring to mind for this ranking, yet it's at no less than number 3. Maybe it's time to move?

4. New Zealand

New Zealand is the safest country in the Asia-Pacific region, which as a whole has seen a slight improvement in the GEM 2023, with an average improvement of 0.32%.

5. Austria

Vienna, the Austrian capital, is the most liveable city in the world, so it is not surprising that Austria is among the three safest countries on the planet...

6. Singapore

Singapore continues to climb up the list, moving from ninth place in 2022 to sixth place in 2023. It thus remains the second most peaceful nation in the Asia-Pacific region for the fourth consecutive year.

7. Portugal

The fact that our own peninsula has a country in the top ten safest countries in the world, while Spain is ranked 32nd, is sobering. In fact, Portugal has been at the top of the ranking for years now...

Red roofs and white facades of the coastal town of Piran Slovenia

8. Slovenia

Slovenia drops one place, but remains at the top of the list despite being geographically quite close to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict zone, which may have been responsible for its 0.085% increase in militarisation.

9. Japan

Last year, Japan regained its position among the top ten most peaceful countries in the Global Peace Index 2022. This 2023 it not only retains it, but moves up one place.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland enters the list in 2023 to fill the gap left by the Czech Republic (in 8th place in 2022).