Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2011 Global Peace Index formulated by the Institute for Economics and Peace at VisionOfHumanity.org.
New Zealand followed in second place, and Japan in third. Denmark and the Czech Republic rounded out the top five. Canada ranked eighth overall, boosting North America’s average – the U.S. climbed only slightly from last year, moving from 85 to 82 this year.
According to the official website, the GPI uses 23 separate indicators to help gauge "ongoing domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society, and militarization in 153 countries."
Not surprisingly, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa remain the least peaceful places on earth. Afghanistan came in 150th, followed by Sudan and Iraq, with Somalia in last place.
The world’s overall peacefulness is down for a third straight year, due largely to the increased threat of terrorist attacks in 29 countries and the threat of violent demonstrations in 33 countries.