From The Canberra Times
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/world/world/general/list-world-most-peaceful-countries/773907.aspx


LIST: World' most peaceful countries

The 20 most peaceful countries, plus other nations of interest.
1. Iceland
2. Denmark
3. Norway
4. New Zealand
5. Japan
6. Ireland
7. Portugal
8. Fiji
9. Luxembourg
10. Austria
11. Canada
12. Switzerland
13. Sweden
14. Germany
15. Belgium
16. Slovenia
17. Czech Republic
18. Hungary
19. Chile
20. Slovakia

23. Hong Kong
27. Australia
49. United Kingdom
67. China
68. Indonesia
95. Papua New Guinea
97. United States
107. India
124. Zimbabwe
131. Russia
132. Lebanon
136. Israel
137. Afghanistan
140. Iraq

AAP




I don't know what survey or measure they've used to come up with this result - perhaps reported crime per capita.

I've always wondered why the US is so violent. I think they rate pretty highly even for crimes that aren't gun related.

freediver wrote on May 21^st, 2008 at 4:54pm:

I've always wondered why the US is so violent. I think they rate pretty highly even for crimes that aren't gun related.

I think there are 10,000 reported gun deaths per annum in the US (if you believe Michael Moore). Of course, then there are stabbing, strangling, poisoning, bludgeoning etc.

freediver wrote on May 21^st, 2008 at 4:54pm:

I've always wondered why the US is so violent. I think they rate pretty highly even for crimes that aren't gun related.

I doubt that the USA is any more violent than any other country, they just have more people.  If you number crunch you may find that - per capita - there are perhaps more murders/violence in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane than in the US.  ::)

Uh, no, I'm pretty sure that list is based on per capita violence rates. I know the US is an unusually violent place (for a industrialised country) on a per capita basis.

Acid Monkey wrote on May 21^st, 2008 at 4:51pm:

From The Canberra Times http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/world/world/general/list-world-most-peaceful-countries/773907.aspx LIST: World' most peaceful countries The 20 most peaceful countries, plus other nations of interest. 1. Iceland 2. Denmark 3. Norway 4. New Zealand 5. Japan 6. Ireland 7. Portugal 8. Fiji 9. Luxembourg 10. Austria 11. Canada 12. Switzerland 13. Sweden 14. Germany 15. Belgium 16. Slovenia 17. Czech Republic 18. Hungary 19. Chile 20. Slovakia 23. Hong Kong 27. Australia 49. United Kingdom 67. China 68. Indonesia 95. Papua New Guinea 97. United States 107. India 124. Zimbabwe 131. Russia 132. Lebanon 136. Israel 137. Afghanistan 140. Iraq AAP I don't know what survey or measure they've used to come up with this result - perhaps reported crime per capita.

Iceland, Denmark and Norway (and to some degree, New Zealand) nearly always come 1, 2, and 3 on most of these things. Best place to visit, least crime, better education, cheaper food ....  whatever.  :)

freediver wrote on May 21^st, 2008 at 5:36pm:

Uh, no, I'm pretty sure that list is based on per capita violence rates. I know the US is an unusually violent place (for a industrialised country) on a per capita basis.

You KNOW that?

As an example, last time I checked it out, there were 35 million Americans who were HOMELESS ... i.e. living in cardboard boxes in mid-Winter (i.e. minus 40 Fahrenheit!)

They have a huge amount of people in gaol and on "death row" as well.

America is the only country that has a disproportionate amount of millionaires -v- the truly poor and it does NOT hand out welfare like we do in Oz.  A horrible place to live unless you have a well paid job.  I certainly hope that Australia never, ever follows the United States!

neferti - that's a surprising list.
new zealand is a very violent place, I used to live there.

Sprintcyclist wrote on May 21^st, 2008 at 10:50pm:

neferti - that's a surprising list. new zealand is a very violent place, I used to live there.

Yea, but is that pub brawls or murder that we're talking about sprint? I would imagine that it could be a bit scary in some places late on a saturday night, but are there many murders and sexual assults?

yes athiest, lots of both. many really nasty ones too, not just crimes of passion.

Not that that would make it any less pleasant.

You would probably see far fewer pub brawls if people were getting shot on a regular basis.

well, every murder means there is one less person to participate in a brawl :-)

These figures must be per capita, a large population will give you smaller percentages but if the actual numbers were there, you could get a better idea. Some of those countries in the top 10 also have high suicide rates. Japan and Germany have a low percentage for obvious reasons. A UN study in 2005 stated that New Zealand was number one in the world for property theft and sexual assault, I guess a lot has changed in three years.

lapaz62 wrote on May 22^nd, 2008 at 5:03pm:

These figures must be per capita, a large population will give you smaller percentages but if the actual numbers were there, you could get a better idea. Some of those countries in the top 10 also have high suicide rates. Japan and Germany have a low percentage for obvious reasons. A UN study in 2005 stated that New Zealand was number one in the world for property theft and sexual assault, I guess a lot has changed in three years.

Good point.

A UN study in 2005 stated that New Zealand was number one in the world for property theft and sexual assault

I doubt that involved a comparison with every, or even mst countries.

Sprintcyclist wrote on May 21^st, 2008 at 10:50pm:

neferti - that's a surprising list. new zealand is a very violent place, I used to live there.

I didn't post the original list, Sprint.   :) This sort of World List comes out every so often, whether it is the best place to live, the country people would like to visit most, etc.  I've seen lists where the Americans vote New Zealand as the number 1 country they want to visit.  Even the Poms seem to vote for NZ over Oz as the place they would want to live in.  ;D

Then, any Kiwi  worth their salt, already lives in Oz.  :P

The UN study named Scotland as the most violent place, with 3% of its population involved in some type of violent crime, the US was second on 1.5%, I am sure that a lot of countries wouldnt keep statistics like that and others that did may not have wanted to share.

lapaz62 wrote on May 22^nd, 2008 at 6:19pm:

The UN study named Scotland as the most violent place, with 3% of its population involved in some type of violent crime, the US was second on 1.5%, I am sure that a lot of countries wouldnt keep statistics like that and others that did may not have wanted to share.

Glasgow is renown for the Glasgow Kiss (head butts)... they have "chavs" over there, young men roaming the streets of Glasgow, unemployed masses, who roam the streets with nothing better to do, I gather.  I am sure there are pockets if this type of person in all countries.  Edinburgh (the Capital of Scotland), on the other hand, is a much more "refined" city.  ;)

neferti - thanks :-)


Quote:

Then, any Kiwi  worth their salt, already lives in Oz.

Taken as a genuine compliment !!!!
If you don't reckon Aussie is prob the best country in the world, try any other country at all.

Quote:

Then, any Kiwi  worth their salt, already lives in Oz.  :P

Hah, props.  ;D

I read somewhere that Adelaide has the highest rate of violent crime per capita in Australia, which surprised me, because I thought Sydney or Melbourne (Underbelly central) would win hands down.