9 Jun 2016

NZ ranked 'fourth most peaceful' country

9:30 am on 9 June 2016

This year's Global Peace Index has listed New Zealand as the world's fourth-most peaceful country.

Iceland heads the list, followed by Denmark and Austria.

Syria was the least peaceful country followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

The index said deaths from conflict had hit a 25-year high, with more people displaced than at any time since World War II.

A statement from the index said wars in the Middle East were mostly to blame.