Global Peace Index 2021: Identifying the Top Country

The Global Peace Index (GPI) is a report created by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). It aims to measure the relative peacefulness across the nations of the world. The index ranks countries based on a variety of indicators, which are grouped into three broad themes:

• Societal safety and security
• Ongoing domestic and international conflict
• Militarisation

For the 2021 edition, the GPI assessed 163 countries. These countries are scored on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators. The score ranges from 1 (most peaceful) to 5 (least peaceful). A lower overall score indicates a more peaceful country.

2021 GPI Rankings Analysis

The 2021 Global Peace Index report identified specific countries as the most peaceful globally. Consistently, Iceland has been recognized for its high degree of peacefulness. In the 2021 rankings, Iceland maintained its position as the world's most peaceful country. This is attributed to factors such as its low crime rate, high levels of social trust, political stability, and lack of involvement in external conflicts.

Other nations also performed well in the 2021 index:

• New Zealand was ranked highly, often placing in the top few positions.
• Portugal also featured prominently among the most peaceful nations.
• Denmark, while very peaceful, was typically ranked just below the very top spots occupied by Iceland in recent years.

The consistent performance of countries like Iceland highlights the criteria used by the GPI, focusing on internal stability, low crime, and absence of violence.