The 11 safest countries in the world revealed - number 2 is just 45 minutes from UK
The world's safest countries, ranked by their "peacefulness", have been revealed.
The world's safest countries, ranked by their 'peacefulness' have been revealed.
(Image: Getty)While the world may seem a dangerous place with the likes of Russia's nearly four-year war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as wider tensions in the Middle East, the civil war in Syria and the secrecy of North Korea, there are, luckily, many countries that are safe and continue to maintain a very high level of peace.
Each year, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) produces its Global Peace Index (GPI), which ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness, covering approximately 99.7% of the world's population. It uses 23 indicators to measure the state of peace across three areas: the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict and the degree of Militarisation. The 2025 GPI found that, overall, global peacefulness is in decline, with more countries increasing their levels of militarisation, increasing conflict and rising economic uncertainty. It was determined that there are 59 active state-based conflicts, the most since the end of World War 2 and three more than the previous year.
That being said, Western and Central Europe is the most peaceful region in the world, home to eight of the ten most peaceful countries. South America, meanwhile, was the only region in the world to record an improvement in peacefulness last year. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains the world’s least peaceful region.
Now, the 2025 GPI report has revealed the world's top 11 safest countries, with the nation in second place just a 45-minute flight from the UK.
Climbing two places in 2025, Czechia, or the Czech Republic, ranks 11th in the list, with a Global Peace Index (GPI) score of 1.435.
A landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia, Czechia is a large, hilly nation that has had its fair share of conflicts in the past, including the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century and becoming part of Nazi Germany and then an Eastern Bloc communist state, but today it stands as a peaceful nation.
Czechia is a developed country with an advanced, high-income social market economy, featuring universal healthcare and free tuition at universities. A member of the UN, NATO and the EU, it ranks 32nd in the Human Development Index.
(Image: Getty)
In 10th place - one position higher than last year - is the Nordic nation of Finland, with a GPI score of 1.420.
Bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the South, opposite Estonia, Finland is predominantly covered by boreal forest and is home to around 5.6 million people.
While Finland faced a civil war after the Russian Revolution in 1917, fought against the Soviet Union and later Nazi Germany, Finland has often held a position of neutrality. After the Cold War, it became a member of the EU in 1999 and then, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, joined NATO in 2023.
Finland was also the first country in Europe to grant universal suffrage in 1906 and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office.
(Image: Getty)
Maintaining its ninth place from 2024 is Slovenia, with a GPI of 1.409.
Formed in 1991, Slovenia is bordered by Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia and is home to approximately 2.1 million people.
One of the world's newest countries, Slovenia's territory has been part of many different states, including the Byzantine, Holy Roman and Habsburg empires. After World War 2, Slovenia was established as one of six republics that made up the socialist federation of Yugoslavia. It then declared independence and became an independent sovereign state.
Highly dependent on foreign trade, Slovenia has a high-income economy and is a member of the Council of Europe, the EU, the UN and NATO.
(Image: Getty)
Dropping one place, but still maintaining a top 10 spot, is Denmark, with a GPI score of 1.393.
Like Finland, Denmark is a Nordic country and the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries. Roughly six million people live in Denmark, of which around 40% live in Zealand (Sjaelland), the largest and island in Denmark proper.
Denmark was embroiled in a series of wars with Norway in the 17th century, followed by a surge of nationalist movements in the 19th century. It remained neutral during World War 1 and had its neutrality violated in World War 2 by a German invasion, which ended after the latter's defeat in 1945.
Today, Denmark is a developed country with a high standard of living, robust social welfare policies and was the first country to legally recognise same-sex partnerships. It is a founding member of NATO, the Council of Europe and the UN and is part of the Schengen Area.
(Image: Getty)