Vienna Has The World’s Highest Liveability Standard For Third Consecutive Year

Vienna is the world’s most liveable city for the third consecutive year, topping the latest Global Liveability Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The index evaluates 173 cities across five key categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. 

Vienna has been named the world’s most liveable city for the third consecutive year at the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2024. Known for its exceptional quality of life, Vienna excels across key metrics such as stability, healthcare, culture, education, and infrastructure, reaffirming its status as a model city for urban livability. 

The EIU’s annual assessment covers 173 cities worldwide across five key categories including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. This year’s 2024 edition of the Global Liveability Index highlights a notable improvement in average scores globally, managed largely by advancements in healthcare and education sectors, particularly in developing nations. However, the index also reflects declines in scores for several top-tier cities, primarily due to challenges in maintaining stability.

Most Liveable cities in Europe

Western Europe maintains its stronghold as the most liveable region, with cities like Copenhagen, Zurich, and Geneva joining Vienna in the top ten. The 30 Western European cities in this year’s ranking reported an average score of 92 out of 100. Despite this, the region has experienced a significant decline in the stability category. Stability was also the biggest declining factor in all five categories in the index globally.

Cities in the Asia-Pacific region that  lead the global liveability rankings

In the Asia-Pacific region, cities such as Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Osaka in Japan, and Auckland in New Zealand have secured spots among this year’s top ten most liveable cities globally, with their high liveability standards, innovative infrastructure and rich cultural offerings. Australasian cities maintain positions within the top 20. However, this year a downgrade has been seen in overall infrastructure ratings for Australia, due to the ongoing housing crisis causing a historic low in rental property availability across many urban centres.

Most Liveable cities in the Middle East and North Africa

Cities across the Middle East and North Africa show a diverse range of liveability.  Many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have seen significant improvements in education and healthcare, improving the region's overall liveability. Notably, cities in the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar) recorded the most substantial score increases. Tel Aviv, affected by Israel’s conflict with Hamas, dropped 20 places to 112th in the rankings, largely due to declines in stability scores. 

Despite these advancements, the region also faces challenges, with cities like Algiers (Algeria), Tripoli (Libya), and Damascus (Syria) ranking among the least liveable globally.

Most liveable cities in North America and Canada

In the United States, major cities like Los Angeles and New York achieved rankings at 58th and 70th respectively, with all 25 American cities in the index maintaining high liveability standards above 80.

Meanwhile, in Canada, an acute housing crisis has adversely affected infrastructure scores, leading to Toronto’s drop from the top ten. Calgary and Vancouver now represent the country in the elite ranks of the world’s most liveable cities. However, all 25 of the region’s cities in the index continue to attain the highest tier of liveability (above 80).

About the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is a global leader in economic and political analysis, providing high-quality data, research, and analysis on a wide range of global issues. Their expertise helps businesses, governments, and organisations understand and navigate complex global landscapes, from economic trends to sustainable urban development.

Understanding these global trends is crucial for businesses, governments, and academic institutions to develop informed strategies. The EIU’s Global Liveability Index provides valuable insights into urban living conditions worldwide, helping stakeholders navigate complex global environments.

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