Iceland most peaceful country in the world: study
Iceland has been named the most peaceful country in the world, again, by the nonprofit Institute for Economics and Peace.
The country has topped the list most years since the organization started the the annual list in 2007.
Four Arctic countries in Top 10
Iceland was one of four of the world’s circumpolar nations found in the study’s Top 10.
The others were: Denmark (2nd place); Finland (6th place) and Canada (7th place).
“Europe remained the most peaceful geographical region in the world, securing the top three positions in the Global Peace Index,” the report said.
“Iceland came out on top as the most peaceful country in the world. Denmark’s score fell moderately following its decision to increase military expenditure and due to the impact of terrorism as a result of the 2015 Copenhagen shootings.”
North America
Terrorism also slightly affected Canada’s score, it said.
“Canada remains one of the most peaceful countries in the world. However, an armed attack in October 2014, where a gunman fatally shot a Canadian soldier outside parliament, caused the impact of terrorism score to deteriorate, resulting in a small decline for the Canadian score as a whole,” it said.
“The incident was used as justification for a bill to expand the counter-terrorism powers of the domestic intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). In addition, Canada has steadily increased its involvement in the international coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), after deploying military personnel in October 2014.”
- Iceland
- Denmark
- Austria
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Canada
- Japan
- Australia
- Czech Republic
Study criteria
The Institute for Economics and Peace looked at three areas to compile the 2015 list: domestic and international conflicts, societal safety and security and militarisation.
They evaluated 162 countries in all.
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Violence and public health in the North – What about the men?, Blog by Heather Exner-Pirot
Denmark: Nordics report high abuse levels against women, Radio Sweden
Finland: Finland ‘downplays’ suicide figures says expert, Yle News
Iceland: Iceland has first fatal police shooting, The Associated Press
Russia: Why high suicide rates in Arctic Russia?, Deutsche Welle’s Ice-Blogger
Sweden: Reports of violent crime increasing in Sweden’s North, Radio Sweden
United States: Survey finds violence against women widespread in Western Alaska region, Alaska Dispatch News
