The world’s most peaceful countries in 2026 and where Switzerland stands
Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland: the Global Peace Index 2026 names the ten most peaceful countries. What the ranking measures and why it is no guarantee in an emergency.
In this article
The ten most peaceful countries in 2026
Our photo series follows the ranking of the Global Peace Index 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace in June 2026. Switzerland ranks 3rd. For each country, we gave one reason that could play a role in an emergency.
| Rank | Land | Our keyword |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | No army of its own |
| 2 | New Zealand | Around 2,000 kilometres to the nearest neighbour, nuclear-free |
| 3 | Switzerland | Neutral for over 200 years, shelters for the population |
| 4 | Slovenia | Small, stable, far from crisis zones |
| 5 | Ireland | Militarily neutral, not in NATO |
| 6 | Austria | Neutral since 1955 |
| 7 | Portugal | On Europe’s western edge |
| 8 | Singapore | The most peaceful country in Asia in the ranking |
| 9 | Finland | Around 50,000 shelters for 4.8 million people |
| 10 | Japan | The constitution renounces war |
Sources: Global Peace Index 2026: The 10 Most Peaceful Countries In The World Right Now · The safest countries if World War 3 breaks out (TikTok post by @pribblymedia)
What the index actually measures
The Global Peace Index assesses 163 countries and territories using 23 indicators. They come from three areas: ongoing conflict, safety and security, and militarisation. The lower the score, the more peaceful the country. Iceland once again clearly tops the list.
Overall, the 2026 report makes for sobering reading. The world has become less peaceful for the twelfth year in a row.
Sources: World's Safest Countries As Global Peace Reaches Historic Low · Singapore, Japan and Malaysia are among the world's most peaceful countries in 2026
Why the ranking is not an escape plan
Our TikTok title asks where you would go in the event of a world war. The index doesn’t answer this question directly. It describes how peaceful a country is today, not how well it would survive a global war. Iceland, for example, has no army but is a member of NATO.
For Switzerland, practical things count as well as neutrality: the population is entitled to a shelter place, and the country is far from today’s war zones. This too is a snapshot. Anyone reading the list should understand it as a comparison of peacefulness and not as a guarantee.
Sources: World's Safest Countries As Global Peace Reaches Historic Low
The discussion on TikTok
Under the photo series on our channel @pribblymedia, the main discussion was about which country was missing. A look at the scores helps: the top places are close together, and even small changes in individual indicators shift the order. The next edition of the index will be published in summer 2027.
Sources: The safest countries if World War 3 breaks out (TikTok post by @pribblymedia)
Sources and status
- The safest countries if World War 3 breaks out (TikTok post by @pribblymedia)Pribbly on TikTok · Checked on 6 November 2026
- World's Safest Countries As Global Peace Reaches Historic LowTravelPulse · Source as of 9 June 2026 · Checked on 6 November 2026
- Global Peace Index 2026: The 10 Most Peaceful Countries In The World Right NowOutlook Traveller · Checked on 6 November 2026
- Singapore, Japan and Malaysia are among the world's most peaceful countries in 2026Time Out · Checked on 6 November 2026