The latest Global Peace Index has rated Iceland the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore. The most peaceful place in the United States is the state of Maine. Runners up included Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Utah.
The ratings were revealed in the 2024 edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) from the international think tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace, released on June 11.
The global peace index ratings take into account 23 indicators for each country, including the number of deaths from internal and external conflicts, level of violent crime, number of incarcerated people, number of refugees and displaced people, number of police and security personnel, military expenditures, nuclear and heavy weapons capabilities, and contributions to U.N. peacekeeping missions.
The U.S. peace index ratings are a composite measure made up of 5 indicators: homicide, violent crime, incarceration, police employees and access to small arms.
Peace is an increasingly precious environment these days as there are currently 56 conflicts taking place around the world, the most since World War II. They have become more international with 92 countries involved in conflicts outside their borders, the most since the GPI's inception.
Although most indicators of peacefulness deteriorated over the past 18 years, there was an improvement in the homicide rate which fell in 112 countries, and perceptions of criminality improved in 96 countries.
Photos (from top): Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Iceland (kimkim.com); Main Street, Camden, Maine (smilingcow.com).
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