SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 — A new report by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has once again named Iceland the world's most peaceful nation, a title it has held since 2008. The island country secured the top spot in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) with a score of 1.095, according to a report cited by CNN.

The GPI ranks 163 countries based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators, including measures of societal safety, security, militarization, and involvement in ongoing domestic and international conflict. Lower scores indicate greater peace.

South Korea showed improvement, climbing two spots to 41st with a score of 1.736. The nation's standing places it well within the more peaceful half of the index, reflecting its stable social and political environment. In contrast, North Korea ranked 149th with a score of 2.911, a position it has maintained, underscoring its continued high levels of militarization and political instability. The report also found North Korea to be the second-least peaceful country in Asia, just above Myanmar, which ranked 153rd.

The United States ranked surprisingly low at 128th, scoring 2.443, a position below countries such as Honduras, Bangladesh, and Uganda. The ranking highlights persistent internal issues and a high degree of militarization.

The least peaceful nations were identified as Russia (163rd) and Ukraine (162nd), a result directly tied to their protracted conflict. The report noted that this ongoing war has had a significant global impact on peace.

Overall, the 2025 GPI painted a concerning picture of global stability. The average global peace score has declined by 5.4% since the index began in 2008. The report warned that the world is at a critical juncture, facing a crisis of violent conflict, with the number of state-based conflicts in 2023 reaching the highest level since the end of World War II.