A Conflicted World
Iceland Named World’s Most Peaceful Country - Israel Among the 10 Least
The 2025 Global Peace Index places Iceland first for the 17th year running, while Israel ranks 155th amid surging global conflict and militarization.
According to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025 by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Iceland remains the world’s most peaceful country, maintaining the top position for the 17th consecutive year.
The report, covering 163 countries and 99.7% of the global population, paints a sobering picture: global conflict deaths have reached a 25-year high, while the number of militarized nations has risen for the second year in a row. The ability to peacefully resolve conflicts is at its lowest point in five decades.
Europe Leads, Middle East Falls Behind
Western and Central Europe continue to dominate the top of the index, with Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland rounding out the top five. By contrast, the Middle East and parts of Africa remain the least peaceful regions.
Israel ranks 155th, placing it among the ten least peaceful nations.
The lowest positions are held by Russia (163), Ukraine (162), and Sudan (161), reflecting the intensity of ongoing conflicts in those regions.
How the Peace Index Works
The GPI measures each nation using 23 equally weighted indicators, including deaths from internal conflict, violent demonstrations, perceptions of criminality, and the impact of terrorism. This year’s results show that 106 countries have become more militarized since 2023, reversing two decades of gradual demilitarization.
“The data highlights a clear erosion of global stability,” the IEP report noted, warning that rising conflict deaths and defense spending threaten long-term development and economic resilience.
Regional Outliers
Among major outliers in the top rankings are Singapore (6th), Portugal (7th), and Japan (12th), while the United States sits far lower at 128th, categorized as “Low Peace.”
The bottom quartile of the index remains dominated by nations affected by active warfare, political instability, or chronic insecurity, including Afghanistan, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.