The world’s safest and most dangerous countries in 2023: The UK is the 37th most peaceful nation, with America ranked 131st – again (far behind Canada, which comes 11th) The ranking is by produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace The list is presented in the institute’s annual Global Peace Index Scroll down for the full list… READ MORE: The best 100 cities on the planet ranked – and London is No.1 By Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor Published: 10:49 EST, 22 November 2023 | Updated: 10:50 EST, 22 November 2023 e-mail 56 View comments The UK has been declared the 37th safest country in the world in 2023 in an annual study that ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness. The study – called the Global Peace Index and produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace – covers 99.7 per cent of the population and measures ‘societal safety and security, domestic and international conflict and the degree of militarisation’. The report concludes that Iceland is the safest country overall – though its publication preceded the current volcanic activity – followed by Denmark (second), Ireland (third) and New Zealand (fourth). America ranks 131st yet again, just behind South Africa (130th) and Haiti (129th). Afghanistan (163rd) is deemed the least peaceful country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Yemen (162nd), Syria (161st), South Sudan (160th) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (159th). The UK has been declared the 37th safest country in the world in 2023 America ranks 131st yet again, just behind South Africa (130th) and Haiti (129th) The report says: ‘There are only two countries in the North American region, with Canada [11th] recording a 2.9 per cent increase in peacefulness’ The report authors say: ‘The war in Ukraine had a significant impact on global peacefulness, with Ukraine and Russia having the largest and fifth largest deteriorations in peacefulness respectively. Haiti, Mali, and Israel were the other countries with the largest deteriorations [note that the study also preceded the current conflict in Israel].’ Europe is the most peaceful region in the world, according to the study, and is home to seven of the ten most peaceful countries. The other three most peaceful countries are in the AsiaPacific region. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remained the world’s least peaceful region, the report concludes. It is home to four of the ten least peaceful countries. The report concludes that Iceland is the safest country overall – though its publication preceded the current volcanic activity Afghanistan (163rd) is deemed the least peaceful country in the world for the eighth consecutive year IMPACT OF WAR IN UKRAINE The economic impact of violence has increased by 479% or $449billion, equivalent to 64% of Ukraine’s GDP. 65% of men in Ukraine aged 20 to 24 years have fled the country, or died in the conflict. Advertisement The report continues: ‘There are only two countries in the North American region, with Canada [11th] recording a 2.9 per cent increase in peacefulness, and the U.S experiencing a slight fall in peacefulness, with its overall score deteriorating by 0.38 per cent. ‘There is a considerable disparity in peacefulness between the two countries.’ Why? The report reveals that one reason is a feeling of safety in Canada, stating: ‘Less than 20 per cent of Canadians report that they do not feel safe walking alone at night in their city or neighbourhood.’ One reason for America’s lowly ranking is the murder rate, with the report stating: ‘The United States recorded the fourth largest overall increase in its homicide rate, which is now above six per 100,000 people and more than six times higher than most Western European countries.’ THE WORLD’S SAFEST AND MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN 2023 1 Iceland* 2 Denmark 3 Ireland 4 New Zealand 5 Austria 6 Singapore 7 Portugal 8 Slovenia 9 Japan 10 Switzerland 11 Canada 12 Czechia 13 Finland 14 Croatia 15 Germany 16 Netherlands 17 Bhutan 18 Hungary 19 Malaysia 20 Belgium 21 Qatar 22 Australia 23 Mauritius 24 Norway 25 Estonia 26 Slovakia 27 Latvia 28 Sweden 29 Poland 30 Bulgaria 31 Romania 32 Spain 33 Taiwan 34 Italy 35 Kuwait 36 Lithuania 37 United Kingdom 38 North Macedonia 39 Costa Rica 40 Albania 41 Vietnam 42 Botswana 43 South Korea 44 Mongolia 45 Montenegro 46 Laos 47 Sierra Leone 48 Oman 49 Timor-Leste 50 Uruguay 51 Ghana 52 Senegal 53 Indonesia 54 Argentina 55 Madagascar 56 Namibia 57 Moldova 58 Chile 59 The Gambia 60 Greece 61 Bosnia and Herzegovina 62 Jordan 63 Zambia 64 Cyprus 65 Serbia 66 Armenia 67 France =68 Panama =68 Paraguay =70 Trinidad and Tobago =70 Kosovo =70 Liberia 73 Cambodia 74 Malawi 75 United Arab Emirates 76 Kazakhstan 77 Jamaica 78 Bolivia 79 Nepal 80 China 81 Tunisia 82 Equatorial Guinea 83 Dominican Republic =84 Angola =84 Morocco 86 Uzbekistan 87 Guinea-Bissau =88 Bangladesh =88 Rwanda 90 Côte d’Ivoire 91 Tanzania 92 Thailand 93 Gabon 94 Georgia 95 Azerbaijan 96 Algeria =97 Ecuador =97 Papua New Guinea 99 Cuba 100 Turkmenistan 101 Kyrgyz Republic 102 Tajikistan =103 Guatemala =103 Peru =103 Togo 106 Guyana 107 Sri Lanka 108 Bahrain 109 Eswatini 110 Benin 111 Lesotho 112 Djibouti 113 Republic of the Congo 114 Mauritania 115 Philippines 116 Belarus 117 Kenya 118 Mozambique 119 Saudi Arabia 120 Honduras 121 Egypt 122 El Salvador 123 Nicaragua =124 Zimbabwe =124 Uganda 126 India 127 Guinea 128 Burundi 129 Haiti 130 South Africa 131 United States of America 132 Brazil 133 Eritrea 134 Palestine 135 Lebanon 136 Mexico 137 Libya 138 Niger 139 Cameroon =140 Venezuela =140 Colombia 142 Chad 143 Israel 144 Nigeria 145 Myanmar 146 Pakistan =147 Türkiye =147 Iran 149 North Korea 150 Burkina Faso 151 Ethiopia 152 Central African Republic 153 Mali 154 Iraq 155 Sudan 156 Somalia 157 Ukraine 158 Russia 159 Democratic Republic of the Congo 160 South Sudan 161 Syria 162 Yemen 163 Afghanistan Source: Global Peace Index 2023 *The report’s publication preceded the current volcanic activity in Iceland and the conflict in Palestine Advertisement f Russia-Ukraine South Africa Canada New Zealand Share or comment on this article: The world’s safest and most dangerous countries in 2023: The UK is the 37th most peaceful nation, with America ranked 131st – again (far behind Canada, which comes 11th) e-mail Add comment