Portugal has once again reaffirmed its global reputation for safety and stability, securing the 7th position in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).
The ranking evaluates 163 nations based on 23 indicators across the domains of societal safety, ongoing conflict, and militarization.
Portugal ranks 5th in Europe, behind only Iceland, Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland. This marks nearly a decade of consistent top-10 placement for Portugal, underscoring its sustained commitment to internal stability and low crime rates.
“Portugal has made remarkable progress, rising from 18th in 2014 to its current top‑10 status. Its strong performance in militarisation and safety indicators underscores the nation’s commitment to peace and security,” stated the IEP.
The country previously reached as high as 2nd place in 2017 and has remained a benchmark for peaceful living since first breaking into the top 10 in 2015.
Recognized as one of the safest and most affordable countries to live in, Portugal continues to attract expats and tourists alike, praised for its political stability, low homicide rate, and strong sense of community.
The top ten for 2025 are: (1) Iceland, (2) Ireland, (3) Austria, (4) New Zealand, (5) Singapore, (6) Switzerland, (7) Portugal, (8) Denmark, (9) Slovenia, and (10) Finland.
Meanwhile, the United States dropped slightly to 122nd place, reflecting deepening political polarization and high violent crime rates, making it one of the least peaceful among developed nations. Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine ranked lowest, primarily due to war, state fragility, and humanitarian crises.
The 2025 GPI highlights a broader trend of global deterioration in peacefulness, with over 152,000 deaths due to conflict and 97 countries experiencing declines. Despite this, Europe remains the most peaceful region globally, hosting 8 of the top 10 countries.
Launched in 2007, the Global Peace Index is the world’s leading measure of national peacefulness, developed in collaboration with peace experts and institutions worldwide. It uses data from sources including the Economist Intelligence Unit and, United Nations.
Source: Institute for Economics & Peace
PAJ/Staff
