A developed economy, a good health-care system and a low violent crime rate contribute mightily to a nation's level of safety, according to a new ranking.
Global Finance magazine has released its annual ranking of the world's safest countries, based on three primary factors: war and peace; personal security; and natural disaster risk.
The U.S. was right in the middle of the rankings, at 65, mainly due to its high homicide rate, according to the magazine.
Other developed nations, particularly those in Europe, placed much higher on the list. The magazine noted that, with the exception of nations such as the U.S., there was a high correlation between economic development and safety.
"Economic development seems to [lower] risk from military conflict or domestic crime," the magazine said. "In essence, these two factors are more controllable than the risk from natural disaster, which is often a function of geography."
Countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan were left off the list completely because of inadequate data from the World Economic Forum and the Global Institute for Peace.
The following 10 nations, in ascending order, were deemed the safest:
10. New Zealand
1. Iceland
The full report can be viewed here.
