Australia has been named among the 20 most peaceful countries on Earth for 2026

According to the latest Global Peace Index, Australia ranks as the 20th most peaceful country out of 163 states and territories evaluated worldwide. While we increased four positions from last year, 99 countries slid backward – the highest number recorded since the index began almost two decades ago.

So, how exactly is peacefulness measured? Rather than just checking whether a nation is at war, this comprehensive study by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) digs much deeper into global safety and stability. It assesses each country across 23 indicators split into three key pillars: ongoing domestic and international conflict, societal safety and security, and militarisation.

In 2026, Australia was named the world’s 20th most peaceful country – a four-position increase from last year. Our nation experienced one of the sharpest global declines in 'terrorism impact', following the tragic Bondi Beach terror attack last December. However, improvements in our militarisation score – specifically driven by lower weapons imports and exports – offset that dip, landing us in the top 20.

Overall, Australia holds steady as the fifth-most peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), just behind New Zealand (#2), Singapore (#8), Japan (#10) and Malaysia (#12). The APAC region also maintains its title as the second-most peaceful region globally, behind Western and Central Europe.

According to the report, Iceland remains “the most peaceful country in the world by a significant margin.” The Nordic nation actually boosted its peacefulness score by two per cent since 2025, thanks to factors like strong social cohesion, low crime rates, trust in the local government, a comprehensive welfare system and a lack of a standing military. You can see the full rankings from the Global Peace Index 2026 here.

The world’s 20 most peaceful countries in 2026

1. Iceland
2. New Zealand
3. Switzerland
4. Slovenia
5. Ireland
6. Austria
7. Portugal
8. Singapore
9. Finland
10. Japan
11. Denmark
12. Malaysia
13. Czechia
14. Canada
15. Hungary
16. Bhutan
17. Netherlands
18. Mauritius
19. Latvia
20. Australia