Iceland yet again most peaceful country
Iceland is followed by Denmark and Austria at the top of the Index. Photo: Eggert Jóhannesson
Iceland has been judged the most peaceful country in the world by the Institute for Economics and Peace – for the fifth year in a row.
The Global Peace Report for 2015 places Iceland at the head of 162 countries, “according to 23 indicators that gauge the absence of violence or the fear of violence.”
These indicators fall under three main categories: Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, Societal Safety and Security, and Militarisation. While Iceland tops none of these three categories, its good scores across the board give it the top spot in the overall Index.
Pipped to the post by Iceland are Denmark (2nd) and Austria (3rd), while the world’s three least peaceful countries in the 2015 Index are Afghanistan (160th), Iraq (161st) and Syria (162nd).
The report concludes that “[t]he most substantial change in the index was recorded for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) — where several countries suffered from an upsurge in violence related to sectarian strife and civil conflicts, as well as a rise in actions by Islamist extremist groups” while “Europe maintained its position as the most peaceful region in the world, supported by a lack of domestic and external conflicts”.
You can see the full text of the 2015 Global Peace Index report here.
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