180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Highly RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Highly Recommended
Iceland holds the best peace score on earth and some of the best LGBT+ rights, all powered by the volcanoes under its feet. The Golden Circle, the south-coast waterfalls and glaciers, the lights in winter, the midnight sun in June — it's nature doing its showing off. Crime barely exists; the weather is the actual hazard. It's brutally expensive, so rent the camper and self-cater without shame.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Iceland: 2.0
Ranked 66th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
2.03 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — a low rate by world standards.
Lower than 63% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Iceland: 1.1
Ranked 2nd most peaceful country in the world.
The most peaceful country of all 163 ranked, scoring 1.095.
Holding steady — unchanged since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Iceland: 8.7
Ranked 13th freest country in the world.
Freer than 93% of the 165 countries measured — 8.76 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.51; doing business and owning property, 7.71.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Iceland: 9.3
Ranked 1st most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
One of the ten best countries on Earth for LGBT+ equality — scoring 93 out of 100.
Law and public attitudes sit close together, at 96 and 90 out of 100.