Canada One of the Safest, Happiest Countries



	Canada One of the Safest, Happiest Countries Brandon Sun “Small World” Column, Monday, January 6 / 25 Zack Gross While one might feel, in following the news on a daily basis, that crime and violence, along with heated debate and intolerance, have risen sharply in our communities and our country in recent years, in fact Canada is listed internationally as one of the safest and happiest countries on the planet. The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) ranked 163 countries in 2024 and Canada came in at No. 11. The IEP bases their listing of peaceful countries on criteria such as the number of violent deaths, the impact of terrorism, the presence of social security programs, any internal conflicts, and a country’s international relationships. The top three countries are Iceland, Ireland and Austria and, despite the war in Ukraine, European countries tend to dominate the top end of the list. At the other end of the scale, where we have the most dangerous countries in the world, the “top” three are Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria, with Russia holding fourth position. Ukraine is the eleventh most dangerous country. Many African and Middle Eastern countries fall into the “dangerous” category. These are countries who may have internal and external conflict, little or no social security or human rights, very poor relations between religious, political or social groups, and much poverty, violence and terrorism. What factors push Canada toward the top of the safest countries list? The IEP sets out the following and you may agree or disagree. It sees Canada as a multicultural success story where diversity in the population has become a strength rather than a contentious issue. “Social cohesion” means that people, whatever their origins or traits, tend to work well together and share a national vision. As well, says the IEP, Canada has effective governance and low corruption, both of which are great strengths in a world where so many countries, rich and poor, are in disarray politically and are held back by those with their hands in the public purse. Continuing on, the IEP is encouraged by Canada’s diverse economy – agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and more - and its more than abundant resource base. Whether it is minerals, forests, water or other resources, we are a world leader (and may have to defend these in the future). Canada has internal peace with a relatively low crime rate, and gun control regulations that help deter mass violence. Although incoming US leadership may see crime flowing into their country from the North, the facts indicate the opposite. A final feather in our caps is Canada’s participation in global peacekeeping and diplomacy, and our reputation worldwide as a collaborative member of the international community. Canadians are also acknowledged as polite, self-effacing citizens who tend to blend into, rather than dominate, the scene. The IEP mentions the status of indigenous peoples in Canada as one where past and some present situations take away from our ranking, but where current efforts at Reconciliation are encouraging. As well, there are regional disparities that need to be addressed and a global climate crisis that is particularly affecting Canada’s North. When it comes to which country is actually the happiest for 2024, there is the World Happiness Index which ranks Finland constantly in first place, then Denmark and Iceland, with Canada sitting in 15th position, actually down two places in the past year. Gross Domestic Product, social supports, healthcare, life expectancy, freedom, and population generosity are key factors in this ranking. 143 countries are counted in this process, with the least happy including Afghanistan, Lebanon and a number of African countries, due to human rights violations, conflict, poverty and other very negative factors. A social media meme about 2024 that has stuck in my mind is the photo of a dumpster fire. The past year has been a difficult one for so many in our world, so that we may lose track of the things we should be grateful for or should be working toward – in particular, peace – but also open-mindedness, fairness and cooperation. To be safe and happy – what every person wants, no matter who they are – should be a global goal for 2025. Zack Gross is Board Chair of The Marquis Project, a Brandon-based international development organization, and co-author of the new book The Fair Trade Handbook: Building a Better World, Together. * * * * * Return to Articles page