Global ranking of the safest countries — Iceland, free from international conflicts, ranks first

▲ Iceland not only boasts natural wonders but was also the safest country in the world in 2016 (Photo / Inspired by Iceland Facebook page)

By Rita

According to The Independent, the Global Peace Index annually compiles a list of the safest and most dangerous countries. In 2016, Iceland performed exceptionally well across multiple metrics, making it the safest country in the world.

The survey covered a total of 163 countries. The assessment was divided into three main categories: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarization. These categories comprised 23 indicators. Scores were assigned on a scale where 5 indicates the highest level of danger, while a score closer to 1 signifies greater safety. Iceland, the safest country, scored 1.192, with almost no domestic or international conflicts and a highly harmonious society.

Right behind Iceland are other Nordic countries: Denmark scored 1.246, ranking second; Austria came in third with a score of 1.278. The UK surprisingly ranked 47th, while the US fared worse, placing 103rd.

▲ Iceland’s Seljalandsfoss waterfall. (Photo /Evangeline-Evan)

Below are the top 11 safest countries in the world:

11. Finland — 1.429
10. Slovenia — 1.408
9. Japan — 1.395
8. Canada — 1.388
7. Switzerland — 1.37
6. Czech Republic — 1.36
5. Portugal — 1.356
4. New Zealand — 1.287
3. Austria — 1.278
2. Denmark — 1.246
1. Iceland — 1.192