Most Peaceful Places In The World

The Most Peaceful Places In The World In 2020

This year hasn’t been the most ‘relaxing’ years to date, but the most peaceful places in the world for 2020 have just been revealed. An annual study shows which countries have the highest level of peace, with Iceland coming out on top.

The Global Peace Index (GPI) measures more than just the presence or absence of war. It captures the absence of violence or the fear of violence across three domains: Safety and Security, Ongoing Conflict, and Militarisation. Interestingly, the 2020  GPI results show that the level of global peacefulness has deteriorated since 2019 – the ninth deterioration in peacefulness in the past 12 years.

The report measures indicators such as  weapons imports, incarceration rate, violent crime, political instability, perceptions of criminality, intensity of internal conflict, police rate and number of refugees or internally displaced persons.

Global Peace Deteriorated Overall

The results this year show that the level of global peacefulness deteriorated, with the average country score falling by 0.34%. Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008. Also at the top of the index is New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark.

Only two of the nine regions in the world improved in peacefulness in 2020: North America and Russia and Eurasia. Europe is still the most peaceful region in the world, and has been for years.

As for the least peaceful place in the world? The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remained the world’s least peaceful region. Afghanistan is the least peaceful country in the world for the second year in a row, followed by Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen. All, except Yemen, have been ranked amongst the five least peaceful since at least 2015.

From 2011 to 2019, the number of riots, general strikes and anti-government demonstrations around the world increased by 244%.

Most Peaceful Places In The World In 2020

most peaceful places world

1. Iceland

2. New Zealand

3. Portugal

4. Austria

5. Denmark

6. Canada

7. Singapore

You can find the full study here. 

Sarah Clayton-Lea

Co-founder of Big 7 Travel, Sarah created the company through her passion for championing the world's best food and travel experiences. Before her career in digital media, where she previously held roles such as Editor of Food&Wine Ireland, Sarah worked in the hospitality industry in Dublin and New York.

Contact [email protected]

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