Yearly, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) endeavors to address the pressing inquiry that fills the minds of numerous homeowners and travelers – which destination truly provides the highest quality of life worldwide?
The much-anticipated Global Liveability Index has unveiled the answer, with the top-ranking cities possibly surprising you.
This assessment evaluates up to 173 cities globally, utilizing various key indicators that encompass stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure of each locale.
Following the consideration of these fundamental categories, cities are assigned an overall score out of 100.
The city that clinched the top spot attained an exceptional score of 98, as reported by the Express.
Copenhagen in Denmark emerged as the ultimate choice for the most desirable place to reside.
According to the EIU, Copenhagen excelled in three areas, securing perfect scores in stability, education, and infrastructure.
It managed to surpass Vienna for the leading position, scoring 97.1, despite Vienna holding the top rank consistently since 2022.
The authors of the report state, “Western Europe remains the top-performing region for liveability, achieving the highest scores across four out of five categories.”
Copenhagen has long been recognized as a premier destination for residents due to its outstanding quality of life, exceptional infrastructure, and steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability.
The capital of Denmark offers a thriving environment for balancing work and personal life, providing residents with opportunities for enhanced well-being through abundant green spaces, exceptional cuisine, and clean water sources.
Another notable region in the rankings is the Asia-Pacific area, with nine cities securing positions in the top 20 list.
Interestingly, this region displays the widest range, featuring cities at both the pinnacle and the bottom of the rankings.
The researchers highlight, “Melbourne, its most liveable city, ranked fourth this year, while Dhaka, its least liveable city, ranked 171st.”
Although the U.S. did not make it to the global top 20 once again, cities like Honolulu, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Washington performed well in the rankings.
Across Britain, its urban centers failed to achieve scores high enough to be considered among the most desirable places to live, attributed to social unrest and rising crime rates.
Nonetheless, several major cities, including London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, were featured in the ranking of 173 cities. The EIU observed a significant shift in the rankings due to a global decline in stability, primarily due to increased terrorism threats, civil unrest, housing crises, and geopolitical tensions.
The report emphasizes, “In several West European cities, stability continues to be undermined by terrorist attacks, crime rates, and xenophobia.”
Here is the list of the top 20 best cities to live in the world:
1. Copenhagen, Denmark.
2. Vienna, Austria (tied).
2. Zurich, Switzerland (tied).
4. Melbourne, Australia.
5. Geneva, Switzerland.
6. Sydney, Australia.
7. Osaka, Japan (tied).
7. Auckland, New Zealand (tied).
9. Adelaide, Australia.
10. Vancouver, Canada.
11. Luxembourg.
12. Toronto, Canada.
13. Helsinki, Finland.
14. Tokyo, Japan.
15. Perth, Australia.
16. Brisbane, Australia.
17. Frankfurt, Germany.
18. Calgary, Canada.
19. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
20. Wellington, New Zealand.