Iceland has been named the world's safest country for the 19th consecutive year in the 2026 Global Peace Index, despite a global decline in peacefulness. The index, produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace, ranks 163 nations across 23 indicators including military expenditure, conflict, homicide rates and perceptions of safety. Overall peacefulness deteriorated in 99 countries, marking the 12th consecutive year of global decline.
Residents and officials in Iceland attribute the country's enduring peace to a combination of factors. Oddný Arnarsdóttir, head of Visit Iceland, said: 'Peacefulness is all around us in Iceland in the nature that surrounds us, but it is also a conscious choice rooted in our close-knit communities.' She highlighted Iceland's commitment to equality, strong public services and widespread use of renewable energy as key contributors.
Geographic isolation also plays a role. Eyrún Aníta Gylfadóttir, marketing manager at Hotel Rangá, noted: 'Iceland's geographic isolation means it's less caught up in global tensions. The vast open landscapes, dramatic mountains, clean air and abundant fresh water play a central role in quality of life here.'
New Zealand ranked second, up from third in 2025, making it the safest country in the Asia-Pacific region. Its improvement was largely due to a fall in weapons imports. Warwick Woodley, a New Zealand citizen and founder of NZ Golden Visa, said: 'Being this far from everywhere means New Zealand has largely avoided the geopolitical mess that drags other nations into conflict.' He added that safety is so ordinary that 'most people don't think about it much, which is probably the best indicator that it's generally not a concern.'
Steve Killelea, founder of the Institute for Economics & Peace, noted that despite global deterioration, 'it hasn't really affected the countries at the top.' The index shows that the safest nations typically combine low violence with well-functioning institutions, high social trust and good relations with neighbours.
