New Zealand Rated Most Peaceful; US 83rd

The Institute for Economics and Peace has released its annual list of the world’s most peaceful countries, Bloomberg reports. The index is based on things like "international security" and "tolerant solidarity." New Zealand is No. 1; the US is No. 83. A sampling:

1. New Zealand: A new government and little strife make the island's 4.2 million people the most peaceful in the world.
2. Denmark. Norway is No. 3, and Iceland fell from the top spot to No. 4 due to the banking collapse and subsequent public protests.

• No. 83: United States: Not great, but better than last year after the IEP determined that the country is less likely to be attacked by terrorists.
• No. 136: Russia has the second-highest prison population after the US, and the invasion of Georgia certainly didn't help.
• No. 143: Afghanistan: The IEP takes current wars into account when calculating the index.
• No. 144 (Last): Iraq: Ditto.

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