Vienna, Austria, or the City of Music, is the world’s most livable city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index. This marks the eighth time Vienna has claimed the top spot in the past decade. Copenhagen, Denmark maintains its position as the runner-up.
Despite a slight dip in rankings in 2021, due to pandemic-related restrictions, Vienna quickly bounced back. It offered an unparalleled blend of stability, robust infrastructure, exceptional education and healthcare services. The city also offers a wealth of cultural and entertainment offerings, according to the report.
Other Rankings
Following closely behind the European capitals, several Australian cities secured high rankings. Melbourne secured the third spot and Sydney followed in the fourth position. Three Canadian cities made their mark in the top rankings with Vancouver placing fifth, Calgary at seventh and Toronto at ninth. Cities, like Zurich, Geneva, Osaka, Japan and Auckland, occupied the remaining spots in the top 10.
This year’s index witnessed significant gains in the Asia-Pacific region. Wellington, New Zealand soared 35 places to claim the 23 spot, while Auckland jumped an impressive 25 spots to secure the spot in the top 10.
Places That Dropped
Edinburgh, the capital of the United Kingdom, slipped 23 spots to 58 spot, while Stockholm, Sweden, dropped 22 places to the 43 spot. Among United States cities, Los Angeles and San Diego experienced significant declines falling to 57 and 61 spot. Manchester, England, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, also suffered a drop of 16 spots, landing them in a tie at 44th place.
How The Rankings Were Determined
The rankings analyzed 173 cities between February 13, 2022 and March 12, 2023. The team looked at 30 factors across five categories: stability, healthcare, infrastructure, culture and education. Local analysts and contributors played a crucial role in capturing the unique cultural nuances of each city. The team considered the impact of the pandemic, such as various restrictions, in the ranking.
Upasana Dutt, the head of EIU’s Liveability Index, highlighted the positive global outlook for liveability in 2023 as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease. Dutt emphasized the resurgence of education and the reduced burden on hospitals and healthcare systems with notable improvements observed in cities across developing economies in Asia and the Middle East. She concluded that as the world’s political and economic axis continues to shift eastward. Cities in these regions are expected to climb the livability rankings gradually.