Safest Countries in the World in 2026: Global Peace Index Names the Leaders

The Global Peace Index 2026 report identified the most and least peaceful countries based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators. Published by the Institute for Economics & Peace, the ranking placed Iceland at the top for the 19th straight year. New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Ireland completed the top five. Japan ranked tenth, securing the highest position among Asian nations.

Russia dropped to the 163rd and final place for the first time in the index’s history. Sudan placed 162nd, the Democratic Republic of the Congo took 161st, Ukraine ranked 160th, and Israel occupied 159th position. Despite improving its score by 2.6% to 3.124 points, Israel remained in the bottom five due to ongoing conflict and high militarisation. Ukraine’s score improved by 3.6%, though the war kept the nation among the least peaceful globally.

Major global powers also remained in the lower half of the rankings, with China at 118th and the United States at 134th. The IEP reported an overall decline in global peacefulness, with 99 countries recording deteriorating conditions over the year. The index evaluates three core domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflicts, and the degree of militarisation.

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