Iceland has been ranked the most peaceful country in the world for the 15th consecutive year, following the latest rankings by the Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2023.

The GPI, which annually lists the safest countries on Earth based on their research, has confirmed that the Nordic island retains its rank as the most peaceful in the world.

Iceland has held the index’s top spot since 2008 Travel and Leisure reports.

The annual rankings are produced through a collaborative effort between the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and the GPI. It takes into account 23 “qualitative and quantitative indicators,” including measurements on “the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of Militarisation,” the report said. 

While 126 countries improved their peacefulness between 2009 and 2020, the 2023 index noted that “the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated for the ninth consecutive year, with 84 countries recording an improvement and 79 a deterioration.”

Post-COVID rises in civil unrest and political instability were the main factors attributed to the decline.

Joining the Icelanders among the top 10 safest countries in 2023 is Denmark in second place, followed by Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Singapore, Portugal, Slovenia, Japan, and Switzerland. 

The five worst-ranked countries on the index include the 163rd-ranked Afghanistan, which is at the foot of the list, followed by Yemen, Syria, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, having all experienced varied levels of unrest. 

The Index placed Jamaica number 77 on the list, while the USA ranked 131st for 2023.