The 20 most peaceful countries in the world 2016

Updated
Beautiful wide-angle aerial view of Reykjavik, Iceland harbor and skyline
Beautiful wide-angle aerial view of Reykjavik, Iceland harbor and skyline


Iceland is the world's most peaceful country, according to the 2016 Global Peace Index from the Institute for Economics and Peace.

SEE ALSO: These are the world's happiest countries

SEE ALSO: World's most depressed countries revealed


Choosing a safe place to visit remains high on the priority list for the majority of travellers and the European country topped the list for the sixth year in the row thanks its low homicide, terror acts and the number of people in jail.

The Global Peace Index also took into account the number of police and security personnel, nuclear weapon capabilities and political instability when compiling the list.

For travellers wishing to soak in the Blue Lagoon, see the Northern Lights or explore the nightlife of Reykjavik, the results were welcomed as Iceland continues to grow in popularity.

Denmark was named the second most peaceful country, followed by Austria, New Zealand and Portugal.

In fact, Europe was named the most peaceful geographical region in the world, with seven of the top ten countries located in the continent. Fourteen of the top 20 countries are in Europe and include Ireland, Switzerland and Germany.

According to the report, Portugal saw the largest improvement in Europe, rising nine places from last year to fifth place globally in 2016, reflecting the country's political stability and economic promise.

The UK was placed 47th in the list, while America ranked 103 out of the 163 countries.

When looking at the least peaceful nations, almost all of the countries were in Africa and the Middle East, with Syria (163), South Sudan (162) and Iraq (162) featuring bottom of the list.

Take a look at the top 20 most peaceful countries in the world, including Japan, Finland and Norway.

Advertisement