Safe havens: Where are the world's most peaceful places?

Iceland has been named the most peaceful country in a more dangerous world, according to an international think tank.

The Global Peace Index has measured unrest and conflict throughout the world for the past eight years and have said recent assessments show a declining trend.

"We are living in the most peaceful century in human history; however the 2014 Global Peace Index shows that the last seven years has shown a notable deterioration in levels of peace," their report reads.

"The world has become less peaceful over the last year, mainly due to a rise in terrorist activity, the number of conflicts fought and the number of refugees and displaced people."

Iceland is followed by Denmark and New Zealand in the country rankings, while Europe was rated the most peaceful region on the planet.

Australia came in at number 15 for the second year running, out of 162 countries assessed.

That is the highest rank Australia has reached since the index began, the lowest being 19, in 2012.

Australia ranked well on general crime, however, the Global Peace Index rated us poorly on measures including gender diversity in government, education spending and weapon imports.

Syria was rated the most violent country, followed by Afghanistan and South Sudan.

The US was ranked at 101, while Russia's year of aggression towards its neighbours saw it relegated to 152.