Safest Country in the World 2025: Iceland Tops Peace Index

Thinking about packing your bags and moving somewhere with zero worries about safety? It’s a question more people are asking as global instability makes headlines. The 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) offers a clear answer: Iceland holds the title of safest country in the world for the 15th consecutive year, with a score of 1.095 according to the Institute for Economics & Peace.

Top ranked safest country in 2025: Iceland ·
Years Iceland has held the top rank: 15 ·
Global Peace Index score for Iceland (2025): 1.095 ·
Second safest country in 2025: Ireland ·
Third safest country in 2025: Austria ·
Number of countries measured in the GPI 2025: 163

Six key facts from the Global Peace Index tell the story of why some countries are safe and others are not.

What is the safest country to live in 2025?

Iceland’s long-standing top position

• Iceland ranks first in the 2025 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.095 (Vision of Humanity).
• It has held the top position for 15 consecutive years (NDTV Travel).
• No other country has held the top spot for as long in the GPI’s history.

Key factors behind Iceland’s safety

• Low homicide rates: Iceland consistently reports fewer than 1.5 homicides per 100,000 people annually.
• Minimal political instability: The country ranks among the top globally for political stability (BBC Travel).
• Low military expenditure: Iceland has no standing army and spends less than 0.1% of GDP on defense.
• Strong community trust: Social cohesion and low corruption drive high internal peace.

The implication: Iceland’s safety isn’t about policing or walls — it’s about social fabric. For expats and digital nomads considering a move, the trade-off is isolation vs. peace.

Which country is number one in peace?

The Global Peace Index methodology

• The GPI measures peace across three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarisation (NDTV Travel).
• Each country receives a score from 1 (most peaceful) to 5 (least peaceful).
• Indicators include homicide rate, incarceration rate, political terror, and military spending as a percentage of GDP.

Top 5 most peaceful countries in 2025

• 1. Iceland — 1.095 (Vision of Humanity)
• 2. Ireland — 1.260
• 3. New Zealand — 1.282
• 4. Austria — 1.294 (tied with Switzerland)
• 5. Switzerland — 1.294

The pattern: the top 5 are all wealthy, politically stable, and spend minimally on internal conflict. For readers looking to relocate, these countries offer the lowest risk of violence but often come with high costs of living.

What is the top 10 safest country in the world?

The full top 10 list for 2025

Ten countries, one takeaway: all are either Nordic, small, or both. Here is the full ranking with scores.

All scores from the 2025 Global Peace Index map poster published by the Institute for Economics & Peace.

Comparison of scores among top 10 countries

• The gap between Iceland (1.095) and Finland (1.420) is 0.325 points — relatively narrow by global standards.
• Singapore (1.357) stands out as the only Asian country in the top 10.
• Slovenia (1.409) and Finland (1.420) are separated by just 0.011 points — almost a statistical tie.

The catch: the top 10 includes no major economic powers. The US, China, Germany, and the UK all rank outside this group. For expats, this means the safest countries are also the least central to global commerce.

Which country is number one in crime rate?

Countries with the highest crime rates in 2025

• According to the Economic Times, a separate 2025 crime-safety ranking places the UAE as the safest country, a different metric than the GPI.
• The countries with the highest crime rates (based on Numbeo and similar indices) include:
• Venezuela — crime index above 80
• Papua New Guinea — crime index above 78
• South Africa — crime index above 75
• Afghanistan — GPI score 3.448 (2024)
• Honduras — crime index above 72

Contrast with the safest countries

• Safety indices (like GPI) measure peace broadly — including political stability and militarisation — while crime indices measure theft, assault, and burglary.
• Iceland’s homicide rate is 0.3 per 100,000; Venezuela’s is 56 per 100,000 — a 186x difference.
• For a traveler or expat, a low crime rate matters more than a low militarisation score.

What this means: if you’re moving for safety, check the index that matches your concerns. GPI favours peace; crime indices favour personal security. For a digital nomad, Ireland’s low crime rate might outweigh its higher cost.

What is Ireland ranked in safety?

Ireland’s position and score in the 2025 ranking

• Ireland is ranked second in the 2025 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.260 (Vision of Humanity).
• It trails Iceland by 0.165 points — a smaller gap than the distance between Ireland and third-placed New Zealand (0.022 points).

Factors contributing to Ireland’s safety

• Neutral military stance: Ireland is not a NATO member and spends about 0.6% of GDP on defense.
• Low crime rates: the homicide rate is roughly 1.0 per 100,000.
• Strong social services: universal healthcare and education reduce inequality-driven crime (BBC Travel).

The implication: Ireland proves that a non-Nordic country can crack the top 3 through neutrality and social investment. For UK or US expats, it offers English-speaking safety without the militarisation of their home nations.

Quotes and expert perspectives

“The 2025 Global Peace Index shows that the world’s most peaceful countries continue to be those with strong institutions, low levels of corruption, and high levels of trust in their government.”

— Institute for Economics & Peace, GPI methodology page

Iceland has been the world’s most peaceful country for 15 consecutive years, reflecting its social cohesion and lack of international conflict, according to NDTV Travel.

“For travellers seeking peace of mind, the safest countries in 2025 offer not just low crime but also political stability and excellent healthcare.”

— BBC Travel

“The gap between the most and least peaceful countries remains stark, with Afghanistan scoring 3.448 on the GPI compared to Iceland’s 1.095.”

— Institute for Economics & Peace, GPI methodology page

Summary

Iceland’s 15-year reign as the safest country is grounded in social trust, not policing — a formula that smaller nations can emulate but larger ones cannot. For the expat or traveler considering a move, the choice between GPI-ranked safety (Iceland, Ireland) and crime-index safety (UAE, Qatar) is a choice between personal freedom and personal security. For a UK-based reader weighing Ireland vs. Austria, the implication is clear: pick Ireland for language and culture, or Austria for central European access and equal safety.

Frequently asked questions