Vienna - the Best City in the World to Call Home

See which places ranked highest in the latest Global Liveability Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit.

 

Vienna retained its title as the most liveable city on the planet. The City of Music maintained the top rank on the EIU's Global Liveability Index, which it has held for eight of the previous 10 semi-annual polls, while Copenhagen firmly maintained its second position.

While the research did note that the Austrian capital dropped down in the ranks in 2021 due to the limits placed on the city's iconic museums and restaurants in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus virus, it stressed that this was an exception. The city's stability, decent infrastructure, great education, health care facilities, and plethora of cultural offerings continue to make it an attractive place to live. The city's lack of hosting any big athletic events is its sole real drawback.

Australian cities Melbourne and Sydney followed the two European capitals in the rankings. Vancouver came in at number five, Calgary at number seven, and Toronto at number nine. All three cities are in Canada. The remaining four spots in the top 10 were filled by Zurich, Geneva, Osaka, and Auckland.

Asia and the Pacific saw the most progress. Auckland, New Zealand, jumped 25 ranks to 10, while Wellington scored as number 23. Bucharest, Romania jumped to the 12th place, while Perth, Australia, ranked 99. In addition, Hanoi, Vietnam jumped significantly, moving up the rankings by 20 places to position 129. Edinburgh, in the United Kingdom, fell 22 places to 58th, while Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, fell 22 places to 43rd position. Los Angeles and San Diego, both in the United States, slipped to number 57 and number 61, accordingly. The English city of Manchester and the Dutch city of Rotterdam both dropped 16 places and are now tied for the 44th position.

From February 13, 2022, through March 12, 2023, researchers rated 173 cities across 30 indicators in five broad areas, such as safety and health care, infrastructure, arts and education, and employment opportunities. Each location also had its own staff of experts and reporters who helped decipher cultural allusions and complexities. The effects of the pandemic were also considered, including the closure of theatres, music halls, stadiums, bars, restaurants, and schools.

 

source: travelandleisure.com