It seems like every time you turn on the news nowadays, another country is in turmoil. War and debt have been tearing the world apart for so long, it's easy to wonder if there's any nation out there that is actually making the planet a better place to live. The Global Peace Index exists to gauge just that by ranking all the countries in the world based on three factors: "the level of safety and security in society, domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization." You might be surprised to see which nations were ranked as the most peaceful of 2015.
It's no surprise that many of the world's most peaceful countries are also some of the happiest countries in the world. Many of the qualities that make a nation peaceful also make its people smile. Believe it or not, the United States ranked extremely low on the GPI at number 94. The U.S. might not be one of the most dangerous countries in the world, but we have a long way to go if we want to be considered as peaceful as many other countries on the list!
If you want to find out what makes a country truly peaceful, check out the 15 nations that were ranked highest on the Global Peace Index. I had no idea that number 11 was such a great place to live, but now that I know more about it, I'd love to move there!
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15. Slovenia
Slovenia's military spending makes up only 2 percent of the country's GDP. The main role of the Slovenian Armed Forces is to maintain international peace, and they continually offer support in humanitarian missions. Its thriving economy has also helped it to maintain its peaceful status.
14. Belgium
Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium, is the home of organizations such as NATO and the European Union. The country itself boasts low rates of both homicide and imprisonment.
13. Sweden
Sweden has been a neutral country for centuries and refused to take part in either of the two World Wars except to aid refugees. It has high marks in many areas that enable it to be such a peaceful country, including protection of civil liberties, equality, education, and quality of life.
12. Ireland
Ireland has a large number of tourists visiting every year, and a large part of this is due to its peaceful nature. Its friendly citizens, beautiful landscape, and rich culture make it an ideal destination away from all the chaos happening in the world today.
11. Portugal
Believe it or not, Portugal was the first country in the world to decriminalize the use of all drugs, and it still remains one of the most peaceful countries in the world. It also has an advanced economy and is ranked as the country with the 18th highest social progress on the globe.
10. Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is the home of Prague, which is one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Europe. However, the Czech Republic isn't just a great place to visit; it's also a great place to live. The nation ranks 15th in the world in inequality-adjusted human development, and its high living standards and great economy have contributed in making it one of the world's most peaceful countries.
9. Australia
Another economically advanced country, Australia ranks second on the global human development index. It remains one of the planet's most peaceful nations, despite also having one of the world's highest military expenditures.
8. Japan
Japan is not only a peaceful country, but a powerful one. It has the world's fourth-largest economy and eight-largest military budget. However, its military is used mainly for defense and peacekeeping, since the nation took away its own right to declare war. Its people have the world's highest life expectancy, and the standard of living within the nation is extremely high.
7. Canada
Canada is well-known for being a great place to live, and it ranks extremely high in government transparency. It also boasts great rankings for quality of life, civil liberties, and economic freedom. It's no surprise that this is one of the most peaceful countries in the world.
6. Finland
Finland has been ranked as the best country in the world, thanks in part to its incredible quality of life, economy, and education system. In 1906, it became the second nation in the world to give all its adult citizens full voting rights. What's more, the Failed States Index ranks this country as the most stable one on the planet.
5. Switzerland
Yet another country with a high standard of living and plenty of government transparency, Switzerland. It also has a very successful economy and is consistently ranked as one of the best countries in the world to live.
4. New Zealand
The beautiful country where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed has a soaring economy thanks largely to its successful tourism industry. Its residents enjoy a high quality of life and civil liberties, and its efforts to preserve its natural resources are well-known.
3. Austria
A member of the United Nations since 1955, Austria is also a part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Its beautiful architecture and natural landscapes make it an ideal tourist destination for those visiting Europe, and those who live there permanently enjoy the same high quality of life that residents of other peaceful countries have.
2. Denmark
You're likely to find this nation on many lists of the world's happiest countries, and for good reason: Denmark is a country with great health care, education, and social mobility. It's also a part of the EU and NATO.
1. Iceland
The most peaceful country in the world is famous for its volcanoes and geysers. Iceland is a beautiful country with lots of happy citizens, and most of its energy is renewable. Icelandics enjoy universal health care and overall equality and stability, and the nation doesn't have an army.
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