International

These Are The 15 Most Peaceful Nations In The World

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Peace Sign from Young Boy
AP Photo/Denis Farrell

Yesterday, the Institute for Economics and Peace released their annual Global Peace Index (GPI), ranking 158 nations based on their levels of peacefulness.

Click here to see the top 15 countries >

The good news is that, for the first time since 2009 the world has improved its levels of peacefulness and it's nice that Sub-Saharan Africa is no longer the least peaceful region.

There was bad news for the USA, which ranks way down the list at 88 (below places like Greece, Serbia and Cuba), and for Syria, who saw the biggest fall, dropping more than 30 spots.

NOTE: The rankings and GPI scores were calculated using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators. To achieve a low score (and thus a lower ranking), the index looked for low levels of internal conflict, cohesive integrated populations, efficient and accountable governments, high levels of regional integration, high enrollment and attendance in primary and secondary schools, low levels of corruption, freedom of the press, and respect for human rights.

#15 Germany

German Fans
AP Photo/Martin Meissner

GPI Score: 1.4

2011 Rank: 15

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#14 Sweden

Sweden Flag and Crown Princess
AP Photo/Christophe Ena

GPI Score: 1.4

2011 Rank: 13 

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#13 Czech Republic

Czech Republic Nuclear Power Plant
AP Photo/Petr David Josek

GPI Score: 1.4

2011 Rank: 5

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#12 Qatar

Qatar Leader
AP Photo/Amel Emric

GPI Score: 1.4

2011 Rank: 12

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#11 Belgium

Belgian Chocolates
AP Photo/Thierry Charlier

GPI Score: 1.4

2011 Rank: 14

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#10 Switzerland

Swiss Alps
AP Photo/Keystone, Martin Ruetschi

GPI Score: 1.3

2011 Rank: 16

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#9 Finland

Finland, Helsinki
AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

GPI Score: 1.3 

2011 Rank: 7

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#8 Slovenia

Slovenia Flag
AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

GPI Score: 1.3

2011 Rank: 10

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

T#6 Ireland

Ireland Flag in crowd
AP Photo/Peter Morrison

GPI Score: 1.3

2011 Rank: 11

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

T#6 Austria

Austrian Boat
AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson

GPI Score: 1.3

2011 Rank: 6

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#5 Japan

Japanese Car Factory
AP/Koji Sasahara

GPI Score: 1.3

2011 Rank: 3

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#4 Canada

Canada Hockey Game
AP Photo/David Zalubowski

GPI Score: 1.3

2011 Rank: 8

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

T#2 New Zealand

New Zealand Rugby Player
AP Photo/SNPA, John Cowpland

GPI Score: 1.2

2011 Rank: 2

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

T#2 Denmark

Denmark War Commemoration
AP Photo/Jens Dige

GPI Score: 1.2

2011 Rank: 4

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

#1 Iceland

Iceland Celebration handball
AP Photo/Roberto Pfeil

GPI Score: 1.1

2011 Rank: 1

Source: Institute for Economics and Peace

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Samuel Blackstone recently graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Journalism and Political Science. He studied abroad in Florence, Italy last year and still misses Berlusconi. His writing interests range from baseball, to fracking, to European politics.