This is officially the most peaceful country in the world (again)

Iceland is the world's most peaceful country, according to the 2017 Global Peace Index.

The Nordic island nation topped the list again and has held onto the title since 2008. As choosing a safe place to visit remains high on the priority list for the majority of travellers, the result was welcomed, especially for those wishing to soak in the Blue Lagoon, see the Northern Lights or explore the nightlife of Reykjavik.

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Iceland beat off competition from the likes of Ireland, Switzerland and Canada. New Zealand and Portugal replaced Denmark and Austria in second and third positions, while the Czech Republic and Slovenia also featured in the top ten world's most peaceful countries.

In fact, the Index revealed that countries in Europe make up eight out of the top ten ranks, making it the world's most peaceful region, despite record levels of terrorism in a number of countries. The rankings were based on on-going domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society and the degree of militarisation.

The UK and Zambia were placed 41st, while the United States ranked 114 out of the 163 countries.

When looking at the world's least peaceful countries, Syria was placed bottom of the table, preceded by Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen.

Take a look at the 20 most peaceful countries in the world, which include Japan, Norway and Australia.