What is the safest country in the world?

Every year since 2009, the Institute for Economy and Peace (Institute for Economics and Peace), evaluates 163 countries based on their degree of conflict. The result of this analysis is the Global Peace Index (Global Peace Index).

The Global Peace Index (GPI), according to the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP, in English Institute for Economy and Peace), presents an analysis that monitors trends in peace, economic value and peaceful development of societies.

The GPI covers almost the entire world population and uses 23 quantitative and qualitative indicators based on three axes: the level of security, conflicts, both internal and external, and the degree of militarization.

These three axes determine which are the most peaceful and safe countries in the world. At the top of the ranking are four Europeans and one from Oceania.

What is the safest country in the world?

The 2023 ranking of the safest countries in the world created by Institute for Economy and Peace (Institute for Economy and Peace) indicates that the top 10 countries (out of 163 analyzed) are:

1. Iceland
2. Denmark
3. Ireland
4. New Zeland
5. Austria
6. Singapore
7. Portugal
8. Slovenia
9. Japan
10. Swiss

Let’s see some considerations that arise from the ranking published by the institution on its website.

With a small population, around 370,000 inhabitants, far from other countries, in northern Europe, Iceland maintains its position as the most peaceful and safe country, according to the GPI. This gives Iceland 1,124 total pointswith 1.6 of crime perceived by the population and 1.7 of homicides.

Without an army, Iceland has minimal defense spending. It also does not record international conflicts. The one in Iceland might attract attention Nearly a third of the population owns firearms. However, they are rarely used to attack another person (murders are rare), but rather for hunting activities. As such, the country has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.

In any case, the Institute for Economics and Peace reports that, in 2022, An unprecedented event occurred in Iceland: the first evidence of terrorist activity, when a group of people were arrested accused of organizing an attack against parliament and the police. The episode would be linked to the emergence of a neo-Nazi organization, the Nordic Resistance Movement, which contributes to lowering some points.

Escort countries at security level

As for Denmarkthe second safest country in the world, it is famous for its tranquility and has often been considered one of the happiest countries in the world. In the GPI he scored 1,310 pointswith 1.54 crimes and 1.47 homicides.

Denmark rises two places in the GPI compared to when it was in fourth place in 2022. One fact that the Institute highlights is that the low cost of violence (4% of GDP) and that military spending only increased in the last budget .

Ireland, the third country in order of merit, obtained a score similar to that of Denmark (1,312), with 2.3 in crime and 1.34 in homicide. It maintains third position and is one of the countries with the lowest costs generated by violence and, according to the Institute, it has “a neutral army, without military spending targets as a member of NATO”.

The fourth safest country in the world is New Zeland, of Oceania, which appears in the GPI with an overall score of 1.313, with scores in crime (2.6) and homicide (2.1). The Institute states that “New Zealand has experienced improvements in indicators such as violent protests, incarceration rates and the impact of terrorism. However, the economic cost of violence remains relatively high.”

In fifth place is another European country, Austria, with an overall score of 1.316, 2.0 in crimes and 1.6 in homicides. “It works well in all areas and is recognized for the low economic cost of violence. Recent terrorist events have led to a severe government response,” the Institute says.

Asian countries in safety

In the list of the 10 safest countries in the world to appear two Asian countriesalso famous for its economy and constant development. Singapore is sixth with 1,332 points and Japan ninth with 1336 points. And in third place in Asia is Malaysia with 1513. While China ranks just 80th (out of 163) with 2,009 points in the GPI.

As for the American continent, The case of the United States is even more alarming than that of China in Asia. United States of America it ranks 131st in the GPI (out of 163 countries reported) with a score of 2,448.

Canada is once again first in America when it comes to developed subjects. 11th in the world ranking for security and peace, with 1,350 points on the GPI. While Costa Rica the first representative of Latin America in 39th place with 1,731 points.

Uruguay and Argentina, with sufficient security

The first two countries in South America are also the 3rd and 4th countries in all of America in the world ranking of merit drawn up by the Institute for Economics and Peace, which ranks the list in order of security and peace.

Uruguay, with 1798 GPI points it is the 50th safest country in the world. While Argentinawith 1837 points, He is ranked 54th in the world rankings. Brazil, for its part, occupies a worrying 132nd position on the planet with 2,462 GPI points. And Mexico, another American power, has a GPI of 2,599 points, which places it in 136th place in the country rankings.

Russia, a world power currently engaged in an absurd war with neighboring Ukraine, is at the bottom of the ranking of the safest countries: it is in 158th place with 3,142 points. And in this regard it surpasses only Congo, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan.