Iceland has been declared the safest country in the world for tourists for the 16th consecutive year, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranking 2023.
The annual ranking, prepared by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP), assesses various factors such as conflict levels, crime rates, and socioeconomic security.
With a score of 1.124 out of 5, Iceland emerged as the leader, thanks to its low militarization, ongoing conflict performance, and overall security.
While Iceland maintained its top position, there were some concerning developments within the country.
The IEP noted the presence of terrorist activity for the first time, as four individuals were apprehended for planning an attack on its parliament.
Additionally, murder rates increased but did not significantly impact Iceland’s overall peace status.
However, the global peace scenario showed a decline in safety for the 13th time in the last 15 years.
The IEP reported a 0.42% decrease in peacefulness on average worldwide.
Ukraine experienced the most significant decline due to the invasion by Russia, dropping 14 positions in the ranking and receiving a score of 3.043.
Afghanistan retained its position as the most unsafe country for the eighth consecutive year, with a score of 3.448.
In terms of Brazil, it ranked 132nd out of 163 countries, with a score of 2.462.
The country continues to face challenges regarding societal and territorial security, ranking 13th worst in the world in this category.
In South America, Brazil ranks behind Venezuela and Colombia, while Uruguay stands as the safest country on the continent, ranking 50th overall with a score of 1.798.
The Global Peace Index evaluates three major groups: militarization, international and domestic conflict, and social and domain security.
It considers indicators such as population incarceration levels, homicide rates, deaths from internal conflicts, and perceptions of criminality.
Despite the overall decline in global peace, Iceland’s consistent ranking as the safest country highlights its commitment to maintaining peace and security.