Iceland has once again been ranked the safest country in the world, holding the top position for the 19th consecutive year. New Zealand is the world’s second safest nation. Is it merely a coincidence that Ireland ranks fifth and Japan completes the top ten, or do islands simply make the ideal places to live?
“For the nineteenth consecutive year, Iceland has retained first place in the global ranking. The Nordic country is followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, and Slovenia, while Ireland rounds out the top five. These countries have very low crime rates, high levels of political stability, and are largely free from conflict,” according to the French news portal Le Figaro.
In the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand remains “the most peaceful country in the region and the second most peaceful in the world,” thanks in part to lower levels of militarization and an outstanding level of domestic security. Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and Australia are also among the region’s highest-ranked countries.
The report also highlights several countries that continue to be affected by conflict or severe instability. Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and Israel rank near the bottom of the index, while Myanmar remains the most dangerous territory in the Asia-Pacific region. Russia once again occupies last place in the global ranking.
Turning back to Europe, Poland ranks an impressive 22nd in the 2026 Global Peace Index. France – often presented as a model for Poland – is ranked only 99th out of 163 countries, behind Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
“A country that was once a symbol of the European way of life now sits in the middle of the table, between Tanzania and Gabon. The report points directly to rising violent crime and a growing sense of insecurity among citizens. Years of open-door policies and uncontrolled mass immigration are bearing fruit. Poland should treat this as a warning. The Migration Pact, whose key mechanisms are entering into force in 2026, introduces mandatory ‘solidarity’: either the relocation of migrants or financial penalties, with Brussels making the final decision. France today, Poland tomorrow?” warns Olivier Bault, Communications Director at Ordo Iuris.
The Ordo Iuris Institute has for years warned about the consequences that the controversial Migration Pact – effectively promoted by Berlin – could have for Poland. Ordo Iuris states:
“Since 2021, Poland’s border with Belarus, which is also the external border of the European Union, has been subjected to unprecedented migratory pressure. Contemporary international law offers no easy tools to address this new type of threat. Only a firm border protection policy can effectively shut down migration routes. The so-called Migration Pact adopted by the European Union under these circumstances does not solve these problems through effective border protection. Instead, it reflects a determination to create fast and seamless migration processes based on the belief that mass migration is inevitable and beneficial for European society, the economy, and culture.”