Vienna, Austria, has retained its title as the world’s most livable city for the third consecutive year, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2024 Global Liveability Index. The city excels across key categories including stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Following closely behind are Copenhagen, Denmark, and Zurich, Switzerland, highlighting the strong presence of Western European cities at the top.
The Global Liveability Index evaluates 173 cities using 30 indicators across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Vienna’s only minor setback, related to culture and environment due to a lack of major sporting events, did not diminish its overall top position.
Representing the Asia-Pacific region in the top 10 are Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, along with Osaka, Japan, and Auckland, New Zealand. However, issues with housing availability have impacted Melbourne, Sydney, and Vancouver, Canada, leading to slight declines in their rankings.
Despite facing challenges, Asian cities are making progress, with Hong Kong notably improving its position due to stabilized political conditions. Conversely, Indian cities are experiencing declines primarily due to air quality issues and infrastructure challenges.
Vienna’s consistent top ranking underscores Western Europe’s strong livability performance, despite slight declines attributed to increased protests and crime in certain areas. North America follows closely, excelling particularly in education but contending with housing crises affecting infrastructure ratings.
In contrast, the bottom 10 cities for livability are predominantly located in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa regions, where civil unrest and economic instability significantly impact livability. Damascus, Syria, and Tripoli, Libya, rank lowest due to ongoing conflicts.
The Global Liveability Index provides a snapshot of the evolving landscape of city livability worldwide, highlighting both improvements and persistent challenges across diverse regions and urban environments.
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