most peaceful nation in Asia

Singapore 

retains top 

spot as most 

peaceful 

nation in 

Asia, takes 

sixth place 

in global 

rankings

The Institute for Economics and 

Peace, which compiled the Global 

Peace Index, said Singapore 

ranked especially high in terms 

of safety and security.

Singapore retained its top spot as Asia’s most peaceful nation and sixth worldwide in a new ranking of countries, set against a global landscape scarred by wars, tightening borders and trade disputes.

Apart from the island state, the only Asian nations ranked at the top of the Global Peace index are Japan at 12th and Malaysia at 13th.

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which compiled the Global Peace Index, said Singapore ranked especially high in terms of safety and security.

Ask the locals in Singapore, and they will say strict laws, low crime rates and a safe environment have helped cement a sense of public order in the tiny island state.

Senior engineer Ricky Ignatius Morier, 49, speaking to The Straits Times, said: “We have very low crime rates because we have strict laws that people follow and adhere to.

“If you do drugs, if you commit certain crimes, there’s a price to pay. So, people are very mindful when they do certain things.”

Beyond law enforcement, he said, Singapore also provides an environment that reinforces a sense of peace and security not just among Singaporeans but for those who come to visit as well.

“The streets are well lit, and we have security cameras everywhere. You can’t get away with robbery or picking pockets. Within minutes, you’ll get caught,” Mr Morier said.

NUS associate professor Ed Araral said his daughter can take public transport past midnight, and he knows he does not have to worry about her coming home safely.

“You can’t do that in Manila. That’s the level of confidence I have when it comes to personal safety in Singapore,” he said, referring to his home city in the Philippines.

Singapore also gets top marks on a metric that measures internal conflicts. It fared well in a list where war-torn nations like Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Syria are at the bottom and considered “least peaceful”.

War and peace

Iceland again took top spot as the world’s most peaceful nation, leading across all three metrics: safety and security, ongoing conflict, and militarisation.

For Icelanders, that sense of safety is baked into everyday life.

Ms Inga Ros Antoniusdottir, in a BBC report, said: “While harsh weather conditions, especially in winter, may not always create a sense of safety, community does.

“You can walk alone at night, mostly without worry. You will see babies sleeping peacefully in prams outside cafes and shops while their parents enjoy a meal or run errands, and the local police don’t carry guns.”

After Iceland, the next four most peaceful nations in the world are Ireland, New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland.

According to the peace index, the number of state-based conflicts has reached its highest level since World War II, with three more breaking out in 2025 alone.

Many countries are responding with increased militarisation.

Yet, despite those grim statistics, some nations continue to prioritise peace.

Peace in the Asia-Pacific region dipped in 2025, but it remains the second most peaceful region in the world.

New Zealand is the region’s most peaceful country. Peacefulness in the last year rose 3.1 per cent, with a fall in just two markers: weapons imports and military expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product.

In a BBC report, Ms Mischa Mannix-Opie, director of client experience at relocation firm Greener Pastures, said: “New Zealand’s gun laws are among the strictest in the world, which absolutely contributes to the sense of safety.

“There’s a general trust in others and in the systems around you, which creates a real sense of community in daily life.”

Myanmar is the least peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region and recorded the region’s worst deterioration in 2025. The country has been racked by a devastating civil war since the ruling military junta ousted the democratically elected government of democracy icon Aung Sang Suu Kyi in 2021.

Indonesia recorded the largest improvement in overall peacefulness in the region, with peacefulness improving by 2.9 per cent over 2024.

IEP noted the significant gains Indonesia has made against terrorist organisations in the past five years.

The country has not seen a terrorist attack outside the West Papua region for the past three years.

Here is the IEP list of the top 15 most peaceful nations in the world:

1. Iceland 
2. Ireland
3. New Zealand
4. Austria
5. Switzerland
6. Singapore 🇸🇬
7. Portugal
8. Denmark
9. Slovenia
10. Finland
11. Czech Republic
12. Japan
13. Malaysia
14. The Netherlands (tied)
14. Canada (tied)
15. Belgium