Iceland has held its position as the most 'peaceful' nation on Earth, according to this year's Global Peace Index.
In addition, the world's overall 'peacefulness' has improved for the first time in five years - although only marginally.
Afghanistan was bottom of the list, moving below even Syria, while South Sudan, Yemen and Iraq were all in the bottom five.
The report measures the 'peacefulness' of 163 countries with a range of measures including military spending and deaths from from conflict and terrorism, as well as an estimated economic cost of violence.
Iceland (pictured) came first in the rankings for the 13th year in a row, as researchers praised the country's falling murder rate and increase in funding to UN peacekeeping
Iceland, often portrayed as an idyllic Nordic paradise, came first in the rankings for the 12th year in a row as researchers praised the country's falling murder rate and increase in funding to UN peacekeeping.
'The strong institutions, attitudes and structures of peace that Iceland maintains has bolstered the country's resilience against small internal shocks,' they said.
Most peaceful:
Iceland New Zealand Portugal Austria Denmark Canada Singapore Slovenia Japan Czech RepublicLeast peaceful:
Afghanistan (163rd in list) Syria South Sudan Yemen Iraq Somalia Central African Republic Libya DR Congo Russia (154th in list)New Zealand came second, as the report's authors noted the violence of the Christchurch mosque attack but said the country had improved other scores and developed a 'resilience' to cope with such disasters.
Portugal was third, and Austria fourth despite an increase in 'likelihood of violent demonstrations' after a far-right party joined the government.
Denmark was fifth, with European nations dominating the top of the list.
'Europe remains the most peaceful region in the world and it recorded a very slight improvement in
