Vienna, Austria has once again been crowned as the world’s most livable city for the third consecutive year. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual Global Liveability Index ranks cities based on 30 indicators across five categories, including stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Vienna received perfect scores in stability, health care, education, and infrastructure, solidifying its top position. However, the city did experience a minor setback in the culture and environment categories due to a lack of major sporting events.
Aside from Vienna, other Western European cities such as Copenhagen, Denmark, and Zurich, Switzerland also made it to the top of the list. In addition, cities in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Osaka in Japan, and Auckland in New Zealand, showcased their high livability scores. Interestingly, Melbourne, Sydney, and Vancouver slipped in rankings due to a shortfall in housing availability, while Toronto fell to 12th place for the same reason.
When it comes to livability scores by region, Western Europe performed the best globally, with a score of 92 out of 100. However, this region experienced a slight decline compared to the previous year, primarily due to increased protests and crime. North America followed closely behind, ranking highest for education, but faced challenges in infrastructure in Canada. Asian cities, on the other hand, showed growth in livability scores, with Hong Kong making significant progress due to political stability.
Asian Cities on the Rise
Asian cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Osaka, and Auckland have emerged as some of the top livable cities globally. Singapore, in particular, recorded a significant jump in rankings and scored a perfect 100 in the health-care category. Despite this progress, Indian cities experienced declines in livability scores, largely attributed to poor air quality and infrastructural challenges. While some Asian cities achieved high livability scores, others are facing constraints that are difficult to overcome.
The stability category saw the most significant decline in scores this year, driven by geopolitical conflicts, civil unrest, housing crises, and increased crime rates. Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa regions dominated the bottom 10 rankings, with Damascus, Syria, and Tripoli, Libya ranking as the lowest cities for livability. Additionally, cities like Kyiv in Ukraine and Tel Aviv in Israel faced challenges due to ongoing armed conflicts, impacting their livability rankings significantly.
The Global Livability Index for 2024 provides valuable insights into the most livable cities worldwide. While some regions have excelled in providing comfortable living conditions, others continue to face challenges that impact overall livability. With ongoing efforts to address issues related to stability, infrastructure, and environment, cities across the globe have the potential to enhance their livability scores and provide better quality of life for their residents.
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