No. 1

New Zealand
GDP per capita: $28,980*
Life Expectancy: 79.9**
Mean Years of Schooling: 19.5***
Unemployment: 4.1%****

After ranking toward the top in previous surveys by the Global Peace Index, New Zealand earns the title of the most peaceful country in 2009. The small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean is home to only 4 million people, about 80% of whom live in cities. Referring to improved relations between indigenous Maori peoples and European settlers, GPI founder Steve Killelea says New Zealand provides an example of an ability "to bridge an ethnic divide and have a peaceful nation."

*Nominal gross domestic product (US$) per capita. Source: EIU; Year: 2008
**Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators; Year: 2006
*** School life expectancy (years), primary to tertiary. Source: UNESCO; Year: 2005 and earlier years depending on availability
****Source: EIU; Year: 2008