The 10 Most Peaceful And Secure Countries In The World According To The Global Peace Index 2021
163 countries are assessed on how safe it is to live on their territory. The result is influenced by a country’s crime rate, whether there is military activity on its territory and how much money the state spends on funding the army.
Author •Vladlena Baranova
Head of Legal & AML Compliance Department, CAMS, IMCM
The 10 Most Peaceful And Secure Countries In The World According To The Global Peace Index 2021
The countries are assessed by an international panel of experts — sociologists and economists. They sit on a panel of experts from the Institute for Economics and Peace and the Center for Conflict Research at the University of Sydney.
The first country security ranking was published in 2007 and has been updated annually since then.
How security of residence is determined
The Institute for Economics and Peace calculates the so-called Global Peace Index (GPI). The index takes into account a country’s score on 23 indicators.
23 parameters
Takes into account the Global Peace Index
Information on countries is taken from open sources such as UN databases. The experts take into account:
the number of organized military conflicts in which the country is involved;
the percentage of refugees in the total population;
the extent to which citizens' rights are respected in the country;
the number of serious crimes and prisoners in the country;
The percentage of the country’s total GDP spent on military expenditures;
the availability of firearms to citizens.
In 2021, the impact of the pandemic coronavirus on the world and individual countries was also taken into account. Between January 2020 and April 2021, more than 5 000 cases of violence were reported globally as a result of the impact of the pandemic — economic and political. Singapore did not make the top 10 safe countries for the first time because of the political instability caused by the pandemic.
For each of the 23 indicators, the country scores between 1 and 5. The indicators are weighted differently. 60% of a country’s final score is for domestic policy and 40% for foreign policy.
The lower the final score, the safer the country is. Iceland is considered the most peaceful country in 2021, with a score of 1.1. The most dangerous country to live and stay in is Afghanistan, whose Peace Index score is 3.631.
The world's most peaceful and secure countries in 2021
Place
Country
Scores
1
Iceland
1,1
2
New Zealand
1,253
3
Denmark
1,256
4
Portugal
1,267
5
Slovenia
1,315
6
Austria
1,317
7
Switzerland
1,323
8
Ireland
1,326
9
Czech Republic
1,329
10
Canada
1,33
The full ranking is presented in the Global Peace Index 2021 reportSource: Institute for Economics and Peace. Global Peace Index 2021: Measuring Peace in a Complex World, Sydney, June 2021. Available at: http://visionofhumanity.org/reports (accessed 1 October 2021).
Iceland topped the list of the world’s safest countries for the 13th time in a row. The state is not involved in military conflicts and spends the least money in the world on the army. The country’s prison population is 33 per 100,000 inhabitants. It is the lowest in Europe and the eighth highest in the world.
New Zealand has been largely unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. The state is effectively coping with the economic consequences and ensuring the safety of the population. But experts have noticed that the country is increasing its arms imports and military spending.
Denmark is one of the best countries in the world in terms of quality of life, where the state actively supports the population with various social benefits. Denmark is also the third-happiest country in the world, according to a UN report. The country is also considered to be the best place for international business development and living with children.
Portugal. In 2020, the state recorded the lowest crime rate in the country in 30 years. The Portuguese are tolerant of new arrivals: around 6% of the population are immigrants.
Maintaining a high level of security for the country is a matter of economic stability. 28 million tourists from different countries choose to holiday in Portugal every year. Tourism revenues account for 18% of Portugal’s GDP.
Slovenia has risen five places in a year’s security ranking. The country has a low crime rate and the likelihood of terrorist acts on its territory is close to zero. It is safe to be on the streets of Slovenian cities at any time of day or night. Slovenia is also considered one of the best countries for retirement living.
87 countries have improved their Peace and Security Index over the past year, the rankings say. There are fewer active military conflicts around the world and the number of victims of terrorist attacks has fallen for the sixth year in a row.
87 countries
Have improved their safety record over the past year
Reykjavik, Iceland. The country has remained the most peaceful and secure in the world since 2008. Iceland has no army of its own, and coast guard and police officers are not issued firearms
How safe are countries that grant citizenship or residence permits by investment
Europe is recognized as the safest region in the world. Eight of the top 10 countries on the Global Peace Index in 2021 are in Europe.
8 out of 10
Safest countries are in Europe
Nine of the European states in the ranking offer wealthy people a residence permit or citizenship by investment. In return for contributing to the country’s economy, the investor receives the right to move to the country as a family, as well as to work, do business, and study in the country without restrictions.
9 European countries
Grant citizenship or residence permits by investment
Level of security in countries with investment programs
Place
Country
Scores
4
Portugal
1,267
6
Austria
1,317
7
Switzerland
1,323
31
Spain
1,621
33
UK
1,658
51
Montenegro
1,847
51
Cyprus
1,912
66
Greece
1,932
149
Turkey
2,843
A residence permit in Portugal is most often obtained for the purchase of a property with a total value of €500,000 or more. If the property needs renovation, the amount of the transaction can be from €350,000. Residence permits are also granted for the purchase of units in investment funds, opening a deposit, creating new businesses and jobs, and financing scientific and cultural projects. It takes at least two months to obtain a residence permit by investment.
A residence permit in Austria is granted to financially independent persons. The investor proves that he or she has enough money to live permanently in the country. It takes at least three months to obtain a residence permit, but you have to meet the quota.
Residence permits in Switzerland are also granted to financially independent investors. The investor pays an annual lump sum tax of about ₣ 450,000 to the canton. The residence permit procedure takes at least six months.
The Spanish residence permit is granted to purchasers of property in the country if the amount of the transaction exceeds €500,000.
Residence permit in the UK. If an investor opens a business in the UK and invests £2,000,000 or more in its development, they will be able to obtain a special visa with the right to reside in the country — Investor Visa (Tier 1). It takes up to three months to obtain the visa.
Montenegrin’s citizenship is granted to investors who make a non-refundable contribution of €100,000 to the state fund and buy a share or apartment worth €250,000 or more in projects approved by the government. The procedure for obtaining a passport takes from four months.
A permanent residence permit in Cyprus is granted by investment of €300,000 or more. The investor can buy residential or commercial property, shares in Cypriot companies, or units in investment funds. It takes at least two months to obtain a permanent residence permit.
Residence permits in Greece can be obtained by purchasing real estate worth €250,000 or more. It is also possible to open a deposit in a Greek bank or purchase shares in local companies, but in this case, the investment must exceed €400,000. Investors receive a residence permit for a period of three months or more.
Turkish citizenship is granted by investment in real estate valued at $250,000 or more. A Turkish passport will also be granted to those who invest $500,000 or more in a bank deposit, securities, or a new business. The procedure for obtaining citizenship takes from three months.
Examples of properties in Cyprus
Cyprus, Limassol
€419,000 — €519,000
Apartments in a unique closed residential eco-project
96 m² — 127 m²
2—3 
2—3 
Immigrant Invest helps investors obtain a second citizenship or residence permit by investment. If you want to move to a safe country, seek advice from experts in investment programs.