Most Peaceful Countries

Iceland topped the list of the world's most peaceful countries based on the list in GPI (Global Peace Index) because of two things: No standing army and a good welfare system providing health and education to each of its people. The GPI gauges national peacefulness and last year's report indicated that the world became less peaceful as 111 countries have worsened since 2008, while only 51 nations have improved. Iceland, an island about the size of Kentucky, lies in the north Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and just touches the Arctic Circle. It is one of the most volcanic regions in the world. Capital and largest city Reykjavik. Total country Population 2014 est. 317,351. Denmark ranked second in the GPI list.  Austria is made it third. At rank 4 is Asia-Pacific's New Zealand. Switzerland placed fifth. Finland is at sixth place. Canada enjoys a "high level of safety, high standard of living and high life expectancy" making it land in 7th place. Japan is at eighth place followed by Belgium at ninth and Norway at tenth place.