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Iceland tops the index for a 19th year, Vietnam ranks 41st, and the world is less peaceful for a 12th year. What the GPI says about safe havens.
The Institute for Economics & Peace's Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026 names Iceland the world's most peaceful country for a 19th year running, followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia and Ireland. Vietnam ranks 41st of 163, ahead of Greece (53rd), the UAE (73rd), Cyprus (80th) and Panama (81st). Globally, peacefulness declined for the 12th year in a row. For investors choosing where to live, it's a useful reference – as long as you understand what the index actually measures.
Source: Institute for Economics & Peace, Global Peace Index 2026 (June 2026)
When a Vietnamese family asks where to base a second residence, safety usually comes up first – ahead of tax or cost. But "safe" covers a lot of ground: street crime, political instability, conflict with neighbours and militarisation are different things.
The GPI is one of the most widely cited measures on the subject. Below we line up the countries NAC clients ask about most, then break the score into its parts to show what a ranking actually reflects.
The 2026 Rankings: Europe and Oceania on Top
The GPI scores 163 countries and territories, covering 99.7 percent of the world's population, on 23 indicators. Lower scores mean more peaceful. In the 20th edition, published in June 2026, Portugal ranked 7th, Singapore 8th and Malaysia 12th – the highest in Southeast Asia after Singapore.
The US slipped to 134th. As Euronews summarised, rising political instability is the main driver. The report says the US score deteriorated by 4 percent, mainly because political instability worsened by 38.5 percent and violent demonstrations rose substantially. It's a reminder that a wealthy economy can still rank low on peacefulness.
Malta isn't in the table. The GPI only covers countries with enough data, and Malta is not among the 163. If Malta is on your shortlist, look to other sources rather than assuming it "ranks badly".
Separating Everyday Safety From the Headline Score
The overall GPI score blends three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing conflict, and militarisation. For a family living day to day in a city, the first – covering crime, violence and political instability – tends to sit closest to lived experience.
A wealthy economy can still rank low on peacefulness.
Singapore rises, Panama falls. On societal safety alone, Singapore sits right behind Iceland in this group, while Panama – 81st overall – has the weakest safety score of the set. Greece, Vietnam, Malaysia and the UAE cluster tightly around 1.9.
Why don't Singapore and Greece rank higher overall? Militarisation drags them down. In the report's Table C.3, Singapore scores 2.095 and Greece 2.360 on militarisation, against 1.204 for Malaysia and 1.231 for Portugal. Heavy defence spending doesn't make streets less safe, but it does worsen the headline score.
A Less Peaceful World – and Why It Matters
The big picture isn't encouraging. According to the GPI 2026 report, average peacefulness fell 0.7 percent over the past year, the 12th consecutive decline. Of the 163 countries, 99 deteriorated and 62 improved. The number of countries involved in at least one external conflict over the previous five years has risen from 59 in 2008 to 103.
Conflict is spreading. Deaths from internal conflict rose from about 29,000 in 2008 to more than 181,000 in the past year, after peaking above 309,000 in 2023. The report also notes that most indicators were cut off at the end of 2025, so the impact of the 2026 Iran war isn't fully captured.
The economic cost is huge. IEP estimates the economic impact of violence in 2025 at USD 21.8 trillion in purchasing-power terms, equal to 10.5 percent of global GDP. For investors, it's a reminder that stability isn't a given – and that diversifying where you live is a form of risk management.
Reading the Index Properly
The GPI is a good tool with real limits. First, some indicators – such as relations with neighbouring countries or political instability – rest on qualitative assessments by EIU analysts rather than counted data. Second, it measures whole countries, so it says nothing about differences between cities or neighbourhoods. Third, the militarisation score can pull down a country whose streets are very safe.
Stability isn't a given – and diversifying where you live is a form of risk management.
Finally, IEP has stress-tested its own index: about 70 percent of pairwise country comparisons hold whatever weighting scheme is used – which means roughly 30 percent depend on the weights. Read the rankings in bands – very high, high, medium – rather than place by place between close neighbours.
A practical strategy for Vietnamese investors
Look at the domain that matches your need. If day-to-day safety for your children is the priority, the societal safety score matters more than the overall rank. Portugal, Austria and Ireland do well on both.
Combine the index with time on the ground. Greece ranks 53rd overall, yet its societal safety score is on a par with Vietnam and Malaysia. A scouting trip to areas such as Glyfada in Athens will tell you more than any table.
Consider options close to home. Malaysia ranks 12th in the world and has the second-lowest militarisation score in our comparison set. An apartment such as Oxley Towers KLCC pairs a central location with a short flight from Vietnam.
Diversify rather than hunt for "perfect safety". No country is immune to shocks. Holding residence in two different regions – say Asia and Cyprus in the Mediterranean – makes a family less dependent on any single geopolitical setting.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most peaceful country in 2026?
Iceland, for the 19th consecutive year, with a score of 1.161. New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia and Ireland follow.
Where does Vietnam rank in the GPI 2026?
41st of 163, with a score of 1.738 – unchanged on the year – and 8th in the Asia-Pacific region.
Should I choose a residence based on the GPI alone?
No. The GPI is a sound reference for national stability, but it should be weighed alongside quality of life, education, healthcare, legal framework and a visit in person.
NAC strategic insight
A less peaceful world is no reason to panic. It's a reason to treat stability as an asset – something to assess, compare and diversify, just like an investment portfolio. The GPI helps narrow a shortlist, but the final decision has to rest on each family's own needs.
NAC helps Vietnamese families read data like this with a clear head, then match it to the right residence programme and the right asset. If you'd like to start, book a consultation with NAC.
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