Amid international conflicts and domestic tensions, some may feel that the US is not the safest place to live right now.
While safety can be a subjective measure, that assessment is not entirely off base: The US is ranked the 134th most peaceful country in the world — falling behind nations like Venezuela, Lebanon, and India — in the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI).
A Gallup poll released in October 2024 showed that 21% of polled Americans expressed a desire to move abroad, up from 17% in 2023 and 10% in 2011. Some Americans have considered moving overseas due to factors such as crime rates, modern conflicts, work-life balance, the cost of living, and parenting values.
However, Gallup also found that the US was the most desired destination for citizens of other countries.
The 2026 Global Peace Index, which was released in June, evaluated countries across three domains: ongoing conflicts, societal safety and security, and militarization.
For ongoing conflicts, the report looked at both “internal and external conflicts, as well as their role and duration of involvement.” Societal safety and security are evaluated by factors such as homicide rates, political terror, violent demonstrations, and perceptions of criminality. Lastly, the militarization domain consists of a country’s military spending as a percentage of its GDP, weapons access, and other factors.
Here are the 20 most peaceful countries in the world, according to the 2026 Global Peace Index.
20. Australia
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T34
Societal safety and security rank: 23
Militarization rank: 48
Australia was also ranked 14th in US News & World Report’s best countries list, thanks to high scores in its health, governance, and opportunity metrics.
19. Latvia
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 46
Societal safety and security rank: 18
Militarization rank: 51
Latvia was ranked the 12th most peaceful country in Western and Central Europe.
18. Mauritius
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T1
Societal safety and security rank: 60
Militarization rank: 9
The report found that Mauritius was the most peaceful country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The island nation jumped up 11 spots from last year’s ranking and saw improvement across all three GPI domains, with the report citing peaceful political competition and institutional stability as factors.
17. Netherlands
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 16
Societal safety and security rank: 12
Militarization rank: 137
Despite ranking 17th overall, the Netherlands’ militarization rank of No. 137 is the lowest placement for any of the three factors for any of the top 20 countries.
The Netherlands has the 17th largest defense budget in the world, at $29.12 billion, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
16. Bhutan
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 29
Societal safety and security rank: 38
Militarization rank: 4
Bhutan was the most peaceful country in South Asia, according to the report.
Yet the country has the longest average workweek in the world, with its citizens working an average of 54.4 hours per week as of 2024.
15. Hungary
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T23
Societal safety and security rank: 31
Militarization rank: 13
After serving for a total of 20 years, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lost in his reelection bid in April. Hungary’s parliament recently passed a constitutional amendment that would impose eight-year term limits on prime ministers, Politico reported.
Orbán remains a controversial figure for his support for Russia and far-right positions, such as his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.
14. Canada
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T34
Societal safety and security rank: T16
Militarization rank: 26
While Canada was ranked the most peaceful country in North and Central America, its score in the societal safety and security domain has dropped by 7.7% since 2008.
13. Czechia
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 22
Societal safety and security rank: 22
Militarization rank: 19
Czechia was also ranked the third-best country for civic health by US News & World Report, thanks to factors such as strong freedom of expression and low income inequality.
12. Malaysia
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 10
Societal safety and security rank: 47
Militarization rank: 2
Malaysia spent just 1% of its GDP on military spending in 2024, per the World Bank. This compares with more than 3% for the US.
11. Denmark
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 20
Societal safety and security rank: 5
Militarization rank: 120
Denmark has previously been ranked the best country in the world for quality of life, based on factors such as cost of living, job markets, and healthcare quality.
10. Japan
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T38
Societal safety and security rank: 4
Militarization rank: 75
Japan also consistently ranks among the countries with the highest life expectancy in the world.
9. Finland
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T47
Societal safety and security rank: 2
Militarization rank: 53
Finland was ranked as the second-most peaceful country on the societal safety and security domain of the GPI.
As well as being one of the 10 most peaceful places in the world, the country has consistently ranked as the happiest country in the world, attracting expats seeking a higher quality of life.
8. Singapore
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 5
Societal safety and security rank: 6
Militarization rank: 126
Singapore, ranked second-most peaceful in the Asia-Pacific region by the GPI, is another popular destination for American expats, including those seeking entrepreneurial economies like Silicon Valley.
The country was ranked in the top 10 in the societal safety and security and ongoing conflicts domains of the GPI, while falling in the lower half of the militarization rank.
7. Portugal
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 13
Societal safety and security rank: 25
Militarization rank: 3
For Americans looking to move abroad, Portugal has emerged as a recent favorite.
A survey of over 116,000 Americans interested in moving abroad in 2024 showed the country as the most requested destination, according to Expatsi, a website with resources for Americans looking to relocate.
The country was ranked third most peaceful in the world in the GPI militarization domain.
6. Austria
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 11
Societal safety and security rank: 21
Militarization rank: 7
Austria has stayed in the top most peaceful countries since the GPI began measuring global peace in 2008.
Vienna, Austria’s capital, has previously been ranked the world’s most livable city and one of the best destinations for expats.
5. Ireland
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 9
Societal safety and security rank: 15
Militarization rank: 8
Ireland ranked within the top 10 countries in the militarization domain and was the fifth most peaceful country overall.
Ireland, known for its stunning landscapes and cultural heritage, has also been a common destination for Americans looking to move.
4. Slovenia
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 19
Societal safety and security rank: 9
Militarization rank: 6
Slovenia, first lady Melania Trump’s home country, ranked sixth most peaceful in the GPI militarization domain, which considers factors such as military expenditure and weapons exports.
The country is often categorized as a hidden gem in Europe for travelers, thanks to its beautiful landscapes.
3. Switzerland
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 6
Societal safety and security rank: 8
Militarization rank: 25
Housing Geneva, the global “Peace Capital,” Switzerland ranked in the top 10 most peaceful countries in the ongoing conflicts and societal safety and security GPI domains.
Quality of life has been one of the factors driving expats to move there in recent years.
2. New Zealand
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 4
Societal safety and security rank: 14
Militarization rank: 11
New Zealand ranked as the most peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region, and received one of the top rankings in the ongoing conflicts domain.
New Zealand transplants have cited its family-friendly towns, natural beauty, and outdoor activities as some of the reasons they love the country.
1. Iceland
Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 1
Societal safety and security rank: 3
Militarization rank: 1
Iceland was named the most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year. It ranked first in the ongoing domestic and international conflict and militarization domains of the GPI ranking, but it’s also one of the world’s most expensive countries.
For Americans looking to relocate overseas, Iceland offers the highest level of safety, as well as breathtaking landscapes.
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