Discover the top 100 safest countries in the world in 2025 using the Global Peace Index (GPI), a major international assessment published by the Institute for Economics & Peace. The index evaluates countries based on societal safety and security, ongoing conflict, and militarisation.
Safety can mean different things depending on whether someone is travelling, living abroad, raising a family, or evaluating a country’s stability. The Global Peace Index offers a useful way to compare overall peacefulness, although it does not measure every aspect of personal or tourist safety.
What Is the Global Peace Index?
The Global Peace Index is an annual report produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace. Its 2025 edition assesses 163 countries and territories using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators.
These indicators are organised into three broad categories:
- Societal Safety and Security: Measures related to crime, social stability, and security conditions.
- Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict: Indicators covering internal conflict, external conflict, and related impacts.
- Militarisation: Measures associated with military capacity and military expenditure.
The index combines these indicators into an overall score. A lower score indicates a more peaceful country, while a higher score indicates a lower level of peacefulness under the index’s methodology.
Top 10 Safest Countries in the World in 2025
According to the 2025 Global Peace Index ranking, these are the ten highest-ranked countries:
| Rank | Country | GPI Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | 1.095 |
| 2 | Ireland | 1.260 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 1.282 |
| 4 | Austria | 1.294 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 1.294 |
| 6 | Singapore | 1.357 |
| 7 | Portugal | 1.371 |
| 8 | Denmark | 1.393 |
| 9 | Slovenia | 1.409 |
| 10 | Finland | 1.420 |
Iceland holds the top position in this edition. The countries in the top ten generally demonstrate strong performance in the index’s assessment of peacefulness, although their individual circumstances and safety challenges differ.
Why Do These Countries Rank Highly?
Countries that perform well in the Global Peace Index tend to benefit from relatively stable security conditions and lower levels of conflict. However, no single factor explains every country’s position.
The index considers several dimensions together, rather than relying exclusively on reported crime rates or public perceptions. This broader approach makes it useful for international comparisons, but it also means that the ranking should not be interpreted as a direct measurement of every resident’s day-to-day experience.
A country can rank highly in overall peacefulness while still experiencing theft, traffic accidents, natural disasters, or other risks.
Where Can You Find the Complete Top 100 Ranking?
The complete countdown should be read alongside its source data and methodology. The 2025 Global Peace Index covers 163 countries and territories, making it possible to examine countries beyond the top ten.
For readers who want the full countdown, the accompanying Global Top 100 ranking workbook provides a country-by-country list, GPI scores, source information, and notes about verification.
Before relying on an individual country’s position, check the original report and confirm the relevant score and rank. Tied scores and changes between annual editions can affect how a ranking should be interpreted.
Is the Global Peace Index a Complete Safety Ranking?
No. The Global Peace Index measures overall peacefulness, not every dimension of safety.
It does not provide a complete ranking of tourist crime risk, road safety, healthcare quality, disaster exposure, or safety for every demographic group. Anyone considering travel or relocation should also consult official travel advisories, local crime information, healthcare guidance, and other country-specific resources.
Conclusion
The 2025 Global Peace Index provides a useful starting point for comparing peacefulness around the world. Iceland ranks first in the 2025 edition, followed by Ireland and New Zealand.
For a fuller understanding of safety, readers should look beyond a single score and consider the specific risks that matter to them. The most useful ranking is one that is transparent about its methodology, evidence, and limitations.
Primary source: Institute for Economics & Peace, Global Peace Index 2025.
https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GPI-2025-web.pdf
