Judging the world’s most livable cities may seem subjective. But by considering parameters such as political stability, healthcare systems, culture, education and the environment, it’s possible to judge how satisfactory life in such a city might be.
In this field, the Economist Intelligence Unit – a subsidiary of The Economist that provides analyses for governments and businesses – has made a name for itself with its Global Liveability Index.
This ranking takes into account no fewer than 30 criteria, divided into five categories, analysed to compare 173 cities around the world. (On the subject of surveys, find out which are the safest cities in the world for travellers, as well as the fittest countries.)
For the third year running, the index crowns Vienna as the world’s most livable city. Indeed, everything seems ideal in the Austrian capital, with scores reaching the maximum of 100 in almost every field, except for culture and the environment, in which the city scored “just” 93.5 out of 100.
With Copenhagen (Denmark) in second and Zurich (Switzerland) in third, the Economist Intelligence Unit above all highlights Western Europe as the best place to live in the world.
In all, the 30 listed cities in this region achieved an average score of 92 out of 100. However, this position may not last due to the rise of Eastern European cities in this ranking: destinations such as Budapest (Hungary), Belgrade (Serbia) and Bucharest (Romania) have all climbed to rank 32nd and 94th, respectively (the latter two are tied).
Conversely, well-known cities such as Dublin, Munich and Hamburg have lost ground.
Widening the geographical scope, Auckland, the capital of New Zealand, joins the top 10 thanks to a 25-place leap, and is now ranked as one of the world’s most livable destinations.
Conversely, political instability logically appears to be a determining factor in cities that score poorly. Stricken by civil war, the Syrian capital Damascus is the world’s least livable city, ahead of Tripoli, Libya. Tel Aviv in Israel fell 20 places due to the recent conflict.
The top 10 most livable cities in 2024 are:
Vienna (Austria)
Copenhagen (Denmark)
Zurich (Switzerland)
Melbourne (Australia)
Calgary (Canada) / Geneva (Switzerland)
Sydney (Australia)
Vancouver (Canada)
Osaka (Japan)
Auckland (New Zealand)