The World’s Most Peaceful Country in 2025 — And How the Rest of the World Compares
This Week in Travel, at a Glance
It has been a busy stretch for travelers. Amtrak offered a first look at its new high speed train, Southwest Airlines stirred debate with a seating policy update, and the U.S. aviation system prepared for a heavy Labor Day weekend even as recent tech outages linger in memory. If you are plotting a quieter escape, there is still time to explore some of America’s underrated islands. Against that backdrop, one headline stood out for anyone who plans trips with safety and calm in mind. The latest Global Peace Index is out, and it crowns a familiar champion.
Iceland Keeps the Crown
Iceland once again ranks as the most peaceful country in the world for 2025. The island’s stark beauty, from steaming hot springs to glacier carved valleys, pairs with a social fabric built on trust and community. Crime rates remain very low, daily life feels orderly, and visitors quickly notice how easy it is to navigate the country by car or on foot. The capital, Reykjavík, hums with cafés and culture yet never feels frantic. Nature is always close, and that connection shows up in the calm, unhurried pace of everyday routines. It is no surprise Iceland also lands near the top of global happiness lists and continues to be a bucket list favorite for travelers.
How the Global Peace Index Works
The Global Peace Index, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, assesses 163 independent states and territories each year. It weighs three pillars that shape a society’s overall calm. First is safety and security in daily life, which captures everything from crime levels to the perception of safety on the street. Second is the presence or absence of conflict, both within a country’s borders and in its external relations. Third is militarization, which looks at things like military spending, weapon flows, and the size of armed forces. Together these indicators offer a broad snapshot of stability that travelers and policymakers can understand at a glance.
The Rest of the Top Five
After Iceland, the next four spots go to Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland. Each of these destinations blends strong institutions with a relaxed rhythm in public spaces. Ireland’s compact cities and friendly small towns set an easy tone. New Zealand pairs outdoor adventure with a clear sense of order and community care. Austria’s efficient transit and tidy streets reflect a culture of reliability. Switzerland’s hallmark precision shows up in everything from train timetables to well kept hiking paths. Different as they are, all five countries make the case that calm is a daily practice, not just a statistic.
Why “Positive Peace” Matters
The report highlights a concept called Positive Peace, which focuses on the conditions that make peaceful societies possible in the first place. Think of it as the attitudes, institutions, and systems that help a country thrive without constant tension. Where Positive Peace is strong, you tend to see faster economic growth, lower borrowing costs, better overall wellbeing, and a greater ability to withstand shocks. In simple terms, places that invest in fairness, education, and good governance usually end up calmer and more resilient. That foundation is what keeps the top ranked countries steady year after year.
A Harder Decade for Peace
Zooming out, the index shows a more challenging world than when these rankings began. Since 2008, the average country score has slipped, meaning global peace has eroded on balance. The gap between the most and least peaceful nations has widened, too, underscoring how uneven the gains have been. The report notes an alarming number of state based conflicts in recent years, the highest since the end of World War II. That backdrop explains why safety feels fragile in many regions and why travelers are paying closer attention to reliable data. The big picture is sobering, even as standouts continue to model what works.
The Bottom of the Table
For 2025, Russia sits at the very end of the index, with Ukraine ranked just above it. Ongoing conflict drives those placements and weighs heavily on both societies. The ranking is not a value judgment on culture or people. It is simply a reflection of the present security environment, which influences everything from flight routes to insurance costs. Travelers can still visit neighboring regions that remain stable, but it pays to double check advisories and plan with flexibility. Peace can change quickly, and responsible travel always respects that reality.
Where the United States Lands
The United States appears low on the list at No. 128. The index points to the country’s high level of militarization as a major factor pushing it down the table. That does not mean every corner of the U.S. feels unsafe. Many cities and states rank well on local safety metrics, and travelers routinely enjoy smooth, memorable trips. The national score simply reflects the aggregate view across the index’s three pillars. For visitors, the takeaway is to plan by region, lean on local data, and treat the U.S. as a set of distinct destinations rather than one monolith.
Regional Trends Worth Noting
Western and Central Europe remain broadly calm, though the report flags France as the most militarized in that region. South America is the only region to record an overall improvement in this edition, with Peru and Argentina showing meaningful gains. In North and Central America, Canada and Costa Rica lead the way on peacefulness, which aligns with what travelers often experience on the ground. In Sub Saharan Africa, Mauritius, Botswana, and Namibia take top honors, each with a growing tourism scene that caters to honeymooners, wildlife fans, and adventure seekers. These regional snapshots help travelers map opportunities for low stress itineraries across the globe.
What This Means for Your Next Trip
Peace is not just a feel good headline. It shapes everything from the vibe on a city street to how easy it is to get help when plans change. Use the Global Peace Index as a high level guide, then pair it with local research on neighborhoods, transit, and seasonal events. Consider travel insurance that fits your route, and save copies of important documents offline before you go. If you crave calm, the top five countries are safe bets for a first or repeat visit. If you are more adventurous, look to regions showing improvement and plan with extra care. Either way, a little preparation turns a peaceful destination into an even better trip.
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This article was written by Hunter and edited with AI Assistance
