Iceland has been named the world's most peaceful country for 19 years. Here's what sets it apart.
Iceland has retained its position as the world's most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year according to the Global Peace Index. The report highlights the nation's lack of a standing military and high levels of social stability.
Why it matters
The ranking provides a benchmark for global stability and highlights the unique security model of a NATO member without a traditional army.
Iceland ranked No. 1 on the Global Peace Index 2026. ssavelyeva1/Shutterstock The Institute for Economics & Peace released its annual Global Peace Index last month. Iceland topped the list for the 19th consecutive year, beating New Zealand and Switzerland. The country doesn't have a traditional military and enjoys political and social stability. Every country is home to crime and conflict, but as indicated by the Institute for Economics & Peace's 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), the extent of that violence and instability varies widely. Business Insider recently compiled a list of the world's most peaceful countries, based on the GPI. The report, released in June, evaluated 163 countries across 23 peacefulness indicators, split across three domains: ongoing conflicts, societal safety and security, and militarization. While European countries made up the majority of the top 10, Iceland stood above the rest by a large margin.
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