Iceland Tops List of World's Most Peaceful Countries, US Ranks Near Bottom

The Institute for Economics and Peace has released their annual report on the world's most peaceful countries, with Iceland topping the list.

Every year, the Institute for Economies and Peace (IEP) releases an annual report known as the Global Peace Index, or GPI. This index takes 23 different qualitative and quantitative indicators into account, which are divided into three groups: Societal Safety and Security, Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and Militarization.

These factors are weighed on a scale of 1-5, with lower scores signifying safer rankings within a particular category.

This year, Iceland topped the list, with an overall average score of 1.161. The nation’s worst categories were Police Rate and Homicide Rate, which it scored 1.995 and 1.636, respectively. However, Iceland scored a perfect 1 out of 5 in eleven categories, including Access to Small Arms, Violent Demonstrations, and Political Instability.

New Zealand placed second, dragged down by 3.171 in Weapons Imports, 2.65 in Perceptions of Criminality, and 2.579 in Incarceration Rate. The island nation also placed extremely well in various other categories, though, achieving a perfect score in ten categories.

Island nations like Iceland and New Zealand tend to have a disproportionate advantage in the index, as their isolated status usually guarantees a 1 out of 5 in Neighboring Countries Relations and improves their overall safety and security.

Switzerland took third place, scoring slightly lower in various categories but maintaining an overall average of 1.363.

The top ten was rounded out by Slovenia, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Singapore, Finland, and Japan, with Denmark and Malaysia just missing out by just under a few hundredths of a point.

Most developed nations, including Canada, Australia, and the UK achieved an average score below 2, but France and the United States stood as major outliers among the Global North.

France had an overall score of 2.083, averaging around 2 for most categories. In specific areas, the nation scored less than 2, scoring a perfect 1 out of 5 in four categories. However, they were dragged down by a 5 out of 5 – the worst rating on the scale – in Nuclear and Heavy Weapons, Weapons Exports, and External Conflicts Fought.

Meanwhile, the United States had an even lower overall score, averaging 2.535 overall. The nation scored a 5 out of 5 in Incarceration Rate, Nuclear and Heavy Weapons, Weapons Exports, and External Conflicts Fought, along with a 3 out of 5 in Access to Small Arms, Intensity of Internal Conflict, Political Terror Scale, Neighboring Countries Relations, and Militarization.

Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): When electricity was first installed in the White House in 1891, President Benjamin Harrison and his wife were afraid of electrocution because of the new concept. They refused to touch light switches, so the staff had to turn the lights on and off for them.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The ability to ask for something extraordinary will get you far. (Donald Trump)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Saturnine (adj, SAT-er-nyne) - Saturnine is a literary word that typically describes people who are glum and grumpy, or things that suggest or express gloom. It can also mean “slow to act or change.”

In a Sentence: A walk in the sunshine can improve your mood significantly, raising the spirits of even the most saturnine among us.

Photo courtesy of the Institute of Economics and Peace