Top 8 Most Peaceful Countries in the World

Iceland is a republic island nation located in the European region. Positioned near the Arctic Circle, Iceland experiences extremely cold weather. However, being situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the country boasts numerous volcanoes, hot springs, and massive geothermal sources. Iceland also features many glaciers. Thanks to the nearby Gulf Stream, the climate in Iceland is somewhat milder. It is often referred to as the 'Land of Fire and Ice.'

The history of Iceland dates back to 874 when Norwegian captain Ingólfur Arnarson settled on the island. In the subsequent centuries, Norwegians and Celts migrated to Iceland. The country was part of Norway and Denmark from 1262 to 1944.

After gaining independence, the national economy flourished, along with a world-class social welfare system. Iceland ranks fifth globally in per capita income and first in the Human Development Index (HDI). With a market economy, Iceland has thriving service and financial sectors. Due to its unique natural landscapes, Iceland is increasingly attracting international tourists. Iceland is a member of organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, EFTA, EEA, and OECD but is not part of the European Union.

Portugal is a country located in the Southwest of the European region, on the Iberian Peninsula, the westernmost point of the European continent. Portugal is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South, and shares its Eastern and Northern borders with Spain. The archipelagos of Azores and Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean are also under Portugal's administrative control.

Human presence on the territory of modern-day Portugal dates back to prehistoric times. Ancient civilizations such as the Gallaeci, Lusitania, Celts, Cynete, Phoenicia, Carthage, Ancient Rome, and Germanic tribes like the Suebi, Buri, and Visigoths have left various influences on the historical landscape of present-day Portugal. The territory was assimilated into the Roman Empire as the province of Lusitania. The Roman culture deeply marked the region, particularly in language; the Portuguese language is derived from the Latin of Ancient Rome. In the 5th century, following the fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes invaded. By the early 8th century, the Moors, followers of Islam from North Africa, initiated the conquest of Lusitania, gaining control over almost the entire Iberian Peninsula, subjugating the Germanic petty kingdoms under Christian rule.

In the ensuing centuries, Christian forces sought to expel the Moors during the 'Reconquista.' The Kingdom of Portugal was established and was part of the Kingdom of Galicia. Recognized in 1143 and with stable borders in 1249, Portugal claims to be the oldest nation-state in Europe.

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, through maritime exploration, Portugal built a global colonial empire encompassing territories in Africa, Asia, and South America, becoming one of the world's most powerful economic, political, and military forces. In 1580, Portugal formed an Iberian Union with Spain. However, in 1640, Portugal regained sovereignty and independence during the Portuguese Restoration War, leading to a new dynasty and the restoration of the separation of the two kingdoms and the empire.

In 1755, a severe earthquake struck Lisbon, causing serious damage to infrastructure, population, and wealth. Subsequently, Portugal faced invasions from Spain and France, and eventually lost its largest colony, Brazil, resulting in political, military, and economic instability, as well as a decline in global power throughout the 19th century. In 1910, the monarchy was overthrown, and a republic was established, followed by a dictatorial regime.

With the Portuguese Colonial War and the Carnation Revolution in 1974, the dictatorship was overthrown in Lisbon, and Portugal relinquished its last overseas territories (Angola and Mozambique). The handover of Macau to China in 1999 marked the end of the longest-lasting colonial empire in history. However, the Portuguese Empire left a significant legacy and widespread cultural, architectural, and linguistic influence worldwide, with over 250 million people currently speaking the Portuguese language.

Modern Portugal boasts an advanced economy with high per capita income, a high Human Development Index (HDI), and living standards. It ranks as the 3rd most peaceful country globally in 2016 and is one of the 13 most sustainable countries in 2017. Portugal maintains a unitary semi-presidential republic form of government, is a founding member of NATO, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, and various international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union (EU), the Eurozone, and the OECD,...

New Zealand is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Geographically, New Zealand comprises two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, along with approximately 600 smaller islands.

New Zealand is situated about 2000 km east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and approximately 1,000 km south of Nouvelle-Calédonie, Fiji, and Tonga. Due to its isolated location, New Zealand is among the last lands to be settled by humans. During this prolonged isolation, New Zealand maintained a diverse ecosystem with many unique species of animals, fungi, and plants. The country's diverse landscape, including sharp mountain peaks like the Southern Alps, is formed through the processes of mountain-building and volcanic eruptions. Wellington is the capital, while Auckland is the most populous city.

Polynesians settled in New Zealand around 1250–1300, developing the distinctive Maori culture. In 1642, the European explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to discover New Zealand. By 1840, representatives of the British Crown and the Maori signed the Treaty of Waitangi, declaring British sovereignty over the islands.

New Zealand became a British colony in 1841 and a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire in 1907. It achieved full independence in 1947, with the British monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) remaining the head of state. Today, the majority of the 4.8 million population of New Zealand has European ancestry, with Maori being the smallest ethnic minority, followed by people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. The official languages are English and New Zealand Sign Language, with English being predominant. The export of wool once dominated New Zealand's economy, but today, exports include dairy products, meat, and wine, along with a growing tourism sector.

As a developed nation with high-income levels, New Zealand ranks high globally in various aspects such as quality of life, healthcare, education, civil liberties, and economic freedom. In 2019, New Zealand's per capita GDP surpassed that of the UK, France, and Japan. It is one of the least corrupt countries in the world in 2019 (Transparency International report), consistently named one of the most prosperous nations globally for many years, ranking 2nd in the most peaceful and safe countries, and holding a very high Human Development Index (HDI), ranking 13th globally in 2019.

Furthermore, the Social Progress Index (SPI) ranks 7th globally (2019), and it is considered the easiest country to do business in the world in 2020 (Doing Business 2020 report). New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, OECD, the Pacific Islands Forum, and APEC.

The Kingdom of Denmark is a country in Northern Europe with a population of only 5.7 million people. Denmark boasts one of the world's oldest continuous monarchies, with Queen Margrethe continuing a tradition dating back over 1000 years to the time of the Vikings.

Denmark has produced many globally renowned painters, writers, and poets. They draw inspiration from the country's nature and culture. One such figure is Hans Christian Andersen, the author of fairy tales like 'The Little Mermaid,' 'The Ugly Duckling,' 'The Nightingale,' and numerous others. When visiting Denmark, you can witness a rich artistic heritage, a glorious history, and stunning, diverse nature that deeply influences the lives of its people.

Denmark ranks very high in assessments of national productivity, and its citizens enjoy a high standard of living. The country is known for its excellent social welfare system and consistently ranks as the happiest nation globally in cross-national happiness studies.

Denmark has demonstrated that economic growth and building a green society can coexist. The country has a long-standing tradition of sustainable environmental protection, renewable and clean energy, as well as advanced climate policies. All of this has positioned Denmark as a global leader in these fields. However, Denmark continues to take action towards global climate goals and improving the sustainability of Danish society.

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It shares borders with the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The territory of Austria covers an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 square miles). The landscape of Austria is predominantly mountainous, situated in the Alps; only 32% of the country lies below 500 m (1,640 ft), and the highest point is 3,798 m (12,461 ft).

The majority of the population speaks the Bavarian dialect of the German language as their native tongue, and standard German is the official language of the country. Other official languages include Hungarian, Burgenland Croatian, and Slovenian. The name 'Austria' in Vietnamese originates from Chinese. In Chinese, Austria is phonetically transliterated as 'Ào dì lì' (pinyin), and written in Han characters as '奧地利' (Ào Dì Lợi). The English name for Austria is Austria. In German, Austria is called Österreich, meaning 'Eastern Realm' (Öster - East, reich - Realm).

The English name of Austria is often confused with the national name of Australia. Therefore, in Austria, a common phrase locals say to tourists is 'No kangaroos in Austria.' Approximately 60% of Austria is hilly or mountainous, including part of the Alps to the east. In Upper Austria and Lower Austria, the Bohemian Forest runs along to the Czech Republic and Bavaria (Germany), and to the east along the border are the Carpathian Mountains. The highest mountain in Austria is Grossglockner (also known as Großglockner), standing at 3,797 m, in the Hohe Tauern range. Large plains lie to the east along the Danube River, primarily the Alpine Foreland and the Vienna Basin, as well as the southern Styria region.

The climate gradually becomes drier from west to east and becomes a continental climate in the eastern and southeastern regions of Austria. The winter season, with abundant snow, has added another tourism season. The northern part of Austria experiences 10 to 20 percent more sunlight than the northern part of Germany.

The highest mountain in Austria is Grossglockner (3,798 m) in the Hohe Tauern mountain range of the Alps, followed by Wildspitze at 3,774 m and Weißkugel at 3,738 m. The mountainous terrain plays a significant role in tourism, providing numerous areas for winter sports and, in the summer, for activities such as mountain climbing.

Slovenia is a country located in Southern Europe. Slovenia shares borders with Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the east and south. Additionally, Slovenia has a coastline along the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. The capital and largest city of Slovenia is Ljubljana. Slovenia is a relatively small and sparsely populated country, with a population of 2,009,245 people as of July 2007.

Slovenia is situated in Central and Southeastern Europe and is adjacent to the Mediterranean. The territory extends from latitude 45° to 47° N and longitude 13° to 17° E. The meridian 15° E corresponds to the dividing line of the country in an east-west direction. The central point of the country is at coordinates 46°07'11.8' N and 14°48'55.2' E, located in the settlement of Slivna in the Litija Municipality. The highest peak in Slovenia is Triglav (2,864 m or 9,396 ft), with an average elevation of 557 m (1,827 ft).

Four major geographical regions in Europe converge in Slovenia: the Alps, the Dinarides, the Pannonian Basin, and the Mediterranean. The Alps—comprising the Julian Alps, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Karawanks, as well as the Pohorje mountain massif—dominate northern Slovenia and the border region with Austria. Slovenia's Adriatic coastline stretches about 47 km (29 miles).

Over half of the country (10,124 km2 or 3,909 square miles) is covered by forests, making Slovenia the third most forested country in Europe, after Finland and Sweden, mainly consisting of beech, fir, and oak forests. Remnants of primeval forests can still be found, most notably in the Kočevje region. Meadows cover 5,593 km2 (2,159 square miles), while fields and gardens occupy 954 km2 (368 square miles).

In terms of geography, Czech Republic is situated in Central Europe, and according to the United Nations classification, it falls under Eastern Europe. Historically and culturally, the Czech Republic is considered to have closer ties to Eastern European countries, especially during the Cold War era.

The area of the Czech Republic is relatively small, ranking 115th in the world. The total area of the country is 78,886 km², with land accounting for 77,276 km² and water covering 1,590 km². Being surrounded by other countries, the Czech Republic has no coastline. It shares a border of 1,881 km with Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the southeast, and Austria to the south.

Historically, the territory of the Czech Republic can be divided into three regions: Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. Note that Silesia only constitutes a small part of the Czech Republic's territory. The country's terrain can be divided into two main regions: Bohemia in the west and Moravia in the east. Bohemia's landscape is structured like a basin, consisting of wide plains and plateaus surrounded by low mountain ranges.

The major mountain ranges surrounding Bohemia include the Karkonosze and Sudeten ranges. The Snezka mountain in Bohemia is the highest peak in the Czech Republic, standing at 1602 meters. While Bohemia's terrain is relatively flat, Moravia, on the other hand, is predominantly hilly. The Czech Republic is also the source of several major rivers in Europe, such as the Elbe, Vltava in Bohemia, and Morava in Moravia. These rivers flow into various seas, including the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Black Sea.

Regarding minerals, the Czech Republic possesses resources such as coal, lead, clay, and timber for construction.

Climate: The Czech Republic falls within a temperate climate zone. Being deep within the continent and not influenced by the sea, the Czech Republic experiences a continental climate, which contributes to significant temperature differences between summer and winter. The diverse terrain also contributes to the complexity of various climate types in the Czech Republic.

Overall, throughout the Czech Republic, winter climate is generally cold but not excessively harsh. The average lowest temperature in the country occurs in January, the coldest month of the year, at -5.4 °C. Snowfall is more prevalent in high mountainous regions but melts quickly in the lower regions, making winters relatively damp. As winter ends, melting snow causes water levels in rivers to rise, occasionally leading to significant floods. Summers in the Czech Republic are typically warm. The highest average temperature occurs in July, the hottest month in the Czech Republic, reaching 23.3 °C.

Canada is the second-largest country in the world, situated in the far north of North America. The Canadian territory consists of 10 provinces and 3 federal territories, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and bordering the Arctic Ocean to the north. Canada shares a continental border with the United States to the south, and the U.S. state of Alaska to the northwest. Northeast of Canada is the island of Greenland, belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark. Off the southern coast of Canada's Newfoundland is the archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a part of France. Canada's shared border with the United States to the south and northwest is the longest international border in the world.

Many Indigenous peoples have inhabited the land that is now Canada for millennia. Starting from the late 15th century, the English and the French established colonies along the Atlantic coast of the region. After various conflicts, Britain gained and then lost many territories in North America, leaving mainly the territories that constitute present-day Canada by the end of the 18th century. According to the British North America Act on July 1, 1867, three self-governing colonies formed the autonomous federal dominion of Canada. Over time, the autonomous dominion gradually incorporated additional provinces and territories. In 1931, under the Statute of Westminster 1931, the United Kingdom granted Canada full independence on most matters. The final ties between the two were severed in 1982 under the Canada Act 1982.

Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Canada is an officially bilingual country (English and French) at the federal level. Due to significant immigration from various countries, Canada is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse nations globally, with a population of approximately 35 million people as of December 2012. Canada has a highly developed economy, ranking among the top in the world. The Canadian economy is primarily based on abundant natural resources and an advanced trading system. Canada has long-standing and complex relations with the United States, significantly impacting the country's economy and culture.

Canada is a developed nation and ranks among the wealthiest countries globally, with the eighth-highest per capita income and the 11th highest Human Development Index. Canada excels in international comparisons in education, government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, and economic freedom. Canada participates in numerous international and intergovernmental economic organizations: G8, G20, North American Free Trade Agreement, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Canada is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).