Iceland Tops Global Peace Index for 17th Consecutive Year; Taiwan Ranks 40th, Russia at the Bottom | WPN World People News

The 2025 Global Peace Index has been released, ranking 163 countries worldwide. Iceland claimed the top spot for the 17th consecutive year. Taiwan ranked 40th, China came in at 98th, and the United States was placed 128th—behind countries like Zimbabwe and India—while Russia ranked last.

The Global Peace Index is compiled by the international think tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). It evaluates peace based on three major domains: “Societal Safety and Security,” “Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict,” and “Degree of Militarization,” using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators. Each indicator is scored from 1 to 5, with lower scores indicating a higher level of peace. The index ranks 163 countries in total.

According to the report, the ten most peaceful countries in 2025 are, in order: Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, and Finland.

The report also notes that global peace has been deteriorating annually since 2014. Currently, there are 59 conflicts between states, the highest number since the end of World War II. In 2025, global peace declined by 0.36%, reaching its lowest level since the index was first established. Rising conflict-related deaths, increased geopolitical tensions, and the growing assertiveness of middle powers are driving what the report calls “The Great Fragmentation”—a fundamental reshaping of the global order that signals the dawn of a new geopolitical era.