June 26, 2025, 5:03 am | Read time: 13 minutes

What Is the Situation in Europe? Where Is It Safe and Where Is It Unsafe, and What Trends Are Emerging on the European Continent? The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) annually analyzes the state of peace worldwide. It compiles the findings in the Global Peace Index (GPI). One result of the current index: Western and Central Europe remain the most peaceful regions globally–but they have also become less secure. And the situation in the East is far from favorable.

At the same time, Europe includes a significant portion of the less peaceful countries, including the world’s least peaceful country: Russia. The country, which is partly in Europe and partly in Asia, is the least peaceful country on Earth for the first time since the GPI’s inception; the Ukraine, which it is at war with, ranks just one place above its aggressor. Russia’s war against Ukraine is also one of the main reasons why peace in the world, and especially in Europe, has declined.

This text summarizes the results for Europe in the Global Peace Index 2025. In the GPI, the European continent is divided into the regions of Western and Central Europe, as well as Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The West and the center rank highest in terms of peace. The second region, which ranks fifth out of eight places worldwide in terms of peacefulness, includes five (wholly or partly) European states that are in the lower half of the Global Peace Index: Georgia, Belarus, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia.

Read all the information on the entire Global Peace Index here: Global Peace Index 2025 – these are the most and least peaceful countries in the world.

Europe and the War Between Russia and Ukraine

Looking at the two European regions in the Global Peace Index 2025, these topics repeatedly emerge: the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. and the increasing militarization of Europe. These were the main reasons for the continent’s decline in peace last year, and they continue to be so. The effect on peace has not been particularly positive.

According to the Global Peace Index 2025, 14 European countries (13 in the West and one in the East) have improved, while 25 (six in the East and 19 in the West) have deteriorated. Two remained unchanged. However, the trend in Europe, as in the rest of the world, is a rather bleak one.

Less Peace in Eastern and Western Europe

The peacefulness of the Western and Central European region decreased by 0.57 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Only one of the 33 countries in this region improved, while 24 became less peaceful, and one remained unchanged. The reason is the increasing militarization in response to the threat from Russia. “The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led many countries to reassess their military spending and overall readiness,” the GPI authors write. As a result, 24 countries in Western and Central Europe have increased their militarization. However, the areas of ongoing conflicts and security have slightly improved.

The peacefulness of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region decreased by 0.77 percent, mainly due to ongoing conflicts. This is largely due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, the two least peaceful countries in the world. “With no immediate end to the conflict in sight, it is likely that Russia and Ukraine will remain the least peaceful countries in the world for the foreseeable future,” the GPI authors state.

Russia and Ukraine: the Least Peaceful Countries in the World

According to the GPI, Russia’s peacefulness decreased by 0.65 percent from 2023 to 2024. In Russia, the areas of security and ongoing conflicts have particularly deteriorated, while military spending has improved. The authors attribute this to a decline in arms exports.

Although Ukraine ranks second to last worldwide, it shows the greatest deterioration in peacefulness in the region. In addition to the ongoing conflict with Russia, the situation within the country is becoming increasingly dire, with growing hardships and deprivations. According to the GPI, the number of domestic violence cases increased by 20 percent in Ukraine in 2024, exacerbating the situation. The spread of firearms has also contributed to the increase in organized crime activities.

Militarization of Europe

In light of the threat from Russia, the Global Peace Index notes that “adequate military spending is necessary to address new security challenges.” However, the focus is less on increasing spending and more on efficient use. While European countries spend more on their military than Russia, their combined potential is only slightly higher. Therefore, the authors believe that simply increasing military spending will not solve the problem. Instead, Europe needs to enhance cohesion and integration of its military efforts.

The GPI authors identify increasing polarization in Europe as a problem. Military spending is displacing investments in social areas such as education, employment, and healthcare. The trade-offs for society should be carefully considered, the GPI authors suggest.

Iceland Has Become Even More Peaceful (With One Exception)

In Western and Central Europe, Montenegro has improved the most. The country gained 2.3 percent, particularly in the area of security. The murder rate has decreased by 0.69 percent, mainly due to a regional initiative to reduce illegal gun ownership.

Bulgaria is the Most Peaceful Country in Eastern Europe

Bulgaria is the most peaceful country in Eastern Europe. In the European comparison, it ranks 20th. Although Bulgaria’s peace score remained unchanged from the previous year, there were changes within the examined areas. Violent demonstrations increased slightly, such as protests against the plan to adopt the euro as the national currency; military spending also increased. At the same time, perceived crime and the areas of nuclear and heavy weapons improved.

BILD Travel: Discover the best hotels in Bulgaria now!

Less Peace in France and Norway

According to the GPI authors, France is the least peaceful country in the region of Western and Central Europe. At the same time, it has the highest level of militarization in this part of the world. And not only that. France has also seen a decline in political stability, with rising national debt and economic uncertainty weakening public confidence in their government.

Although Norway is not the least peaceful country in Western and Central Europe, it has deteriorated the most among all countries in this region. Here, too, the reason is increasing militarization. As a result, Norway has the second-highest level of militarization in this area worldwide.

These Are the (Un)safest Countries in Europe According to Global Peace Index 2025

Fourteen of the 20 most peaceful countries in the world are in Europe. Among them is the safest–Iceland–as well as three others in the top five: Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland. The Western and Central Europe region is the most peaceful region worldwide, according to the current Global Peace Index, or GPI, although peace is also declining in this part of the world.

At the same time, Europe also includes a significant portion of the less peaceful countries, among them even the least peaceful country in the world: Russia. The country, which is partly in Europe and partly in Asia, is the least peaceful country on Earth for the first time since the GPI’s existence; Ukraine, which it is waging war against, ranks just one place above its aggressor. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is also one of the main reasons why peace in the world, and especially in Europe, has declined.

In this text, we summarize the results for Europe in the Global Peace Index 2025. In the GPI, the European continent is divided into the regions of Western and Central Europe, as well as Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The West and the center rank highest in terms of peace. The second region, which ranks fifth out of eight places worldwide in terms of peacefulness, includes five (wholly or partially) European states that are in the lower half of the Global Peace Index: Georgia, Belarus, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia.

Read all the information on the entire Global Peace Index here: Global Peace Index 2025 – these are the most and least peaceful countries in the world.

Europe and the War Between Russia and Ukraine

When examining the two European regions in the Global Peace Index 2025, these themes repeatedly emerge: the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the increasing militarization of European countries. These were the main issues on our continent last year, and they continue to be so. The effect on peace: not particularly good.

According to the Global Peace Index 2025, 14 European countries (13 in the West and one in the East) have improved, while 25 (six in the East and 19 in the West) have become less peaceful, with two remaining unchanged. However, the trend in Europe, as worldwide, is currently rather bleak.

Less Peace in Eastern and Western Europe

The peacefulness of the Western and Central European region decreased by 0.57 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Only 13 out of 33 countries in this region have improved, 19 are less peaceful than before, and one has remained the same. The reason: increasing militarization in response to the threat from Russia. As the GPI authors write, “The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led many European countries to reassess their military spending and overall combat readiness.” As a result, 24 countries in Western and Central Europe have deteriorated in this area, meaning they have increased their militarization. At the same time, however, the areas of ongoing conflicts and security have slightly improved.

According to the GPI 2025, the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia has experienced the second-largest deterioration worldwide. The area of ongoing conflicts has particularly worsened here. The level of peacefulness has decreased by 0.77 percent, mainly due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, the two least peaceful countries in the world. “With no immediate end to the conflict in sight, it is likely that Russia and Ukraine will remain two of the least peaceful countries in the world for the foreseeable future,” the Global Peace Index states.

Russia and Ukraine: the Least Peaceful Countries in the World

According to the GPI, Russia’s peacefulness decreased by 6.5 percent from 2023 to 2024. In Russia, the areas of security and ongoing conflicts have particularly deteriorated, while the area of militarization improved, which the authors attribute to a decline in arms exports.

Although Ukraine ranks second to last worldwide, it shows the greatest deterioration in peacefulness in the region. In addition to the ongoing conflict with Russia, the situation within the country is becoming increasingly dire, with growing hardships and deprivations. According to the GPI, there were 20 percent more cases of domestic violence in 2024, totaling 291,000 cases. Additionally, there is more organized crime activity, partly due to “the spread of firearms from the conflict zone.”

Militarization of Europe

In light of the threat from Russia, the Global Peace Index 2025 considers “adequate military spending essential to address new threats.” However, the focus is less on increasing spending and more on efficient use. According to the GPI, European countries spend significantly more on their military than Russia, but their combined potential only slightly exceeds that of the Russian state. Therefore, the authors believe that simply increasing military spending will not solve the problem. Instead, Europe needs to enhance cohesion and integration of its military efforts.

The GPI authors identify increasing polarization in Europe as a problem. Military spending is displacing investments in social areas such as education, employment, and healthcare. The trade-offs for society should be carefully considered, the GPI authors suggest.

Iceland Has Become Even More Peaceful (With One Exception)

Iceland remains the most peaceful country in Europe and the world–and has been since 2008. Not only that, but Iceland has also improved by two percent compared to the previous year. Only one area has worsened in Iceland: military spending.

European countries such as Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland also show remarkable resilience and particularly high values in terms of positive peace in Europe, according to the Global Peace Index.

Murder Rate Hits Record Low in Montenegro

In Western and Central Europe, Montenegro has improved the most. The country gained 2.3 percent, particularly in the area of security. The murder rate has decreased by 69.7 percent, bringing the country to a record low of 0.8 murders per 100,000 people. This is apparently due to a regional initiative to reduce illegal gun ownership.

Bulgaria is the Most Peaceful Country in Eastern Europe

Bulgaria is the most peaceful country in Eastern Europe, ranking 20th in the European comparison. Although Bulgaria’s peace score remained unchanged from the previous year, there were changes within the examined areas. Violent demonstrations increased slightly, such as protests against the plan to adopt the euro as the national currency; military spending also increased. At the same time, perceived crime and the areas of nuclear and heavy weapons improved.

BILD Travel: Discover the best hotels in Bulgaria now!

Less Peace in France and Norway

According to the GPI authors, France is the least peaceful country in the region of Western and Central Europe. At the same time, it has the highest level of militarization in this part of the world. And not only that. Due to the country’s domestic political issues, evident in the “fragmented parliamentary election and government stalemate,” political stability has also decreased. Additionally, rising national debt and economic uncertainty have weakened public confidence in their government.

Norway is not the least peaceful country in the European West and Center, but it has deteriorated the most among all countries in this region. The reason is also the increasing militarization. Norway has significantly increased both its spending and arms exports. At the same time, the security situation in Norway has slightly improved, with the country ranking second worldwide in this area.

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These Are the (Un)safest Countries in Europe According to Global Peace Index 2025

(in parentheses the ranking in the global index of 163 countries)

1. Iceland (1)
2. Ireland (2)
3./4. Austria (4./5.)
3./4. Switzerland (4./5.)
5. Portugal (7)
6. Denmark (8)
7. Slovenia (9)
8. Finland (10)
9. Czech Republic (11)
10. Netherlands (14)
11. Belgium (16)
12. Hungary (17)
13. Croatia (19)
14. Germany (20)
15./16. Lithuania (22/23)
15./16. Latvia (22/23)
17. Estonia (24)
18. Spain (25)
19. Slovakia (28)
20. Bulgaria (29)
21. United Kingdom (30)
22. Norway (32)
23. Italy (33)
24. Montenegro (34)
25. Sweden (35)
26. Poland (36)
27. Romania (38)
28. Greece (45)
29. North Macedonia (51)
30. Albania (52)
31. Bosnia and Herzegovina (59)
32. Kosovo (63)
33. Serbia (64)
34. Moldova (66)
35. Cyprus (68)
36. France (74)
37. Georgia (109)
38. Belarus (119)
39. Turkey (146)
40. Ukraine (162)
41. Russia (163)