The Austrian capital of Vienna was named the world’s ‘most liveable city,’ with Copenhagen and Zurich close behind in The Economist’s annual rankings.
Western European and Canadian cities dominated the ranking, accounting for nine of the top ten slots in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2022 Global Liveability Index.
Only two cities outside of Europe and Canada made the cut: Osaka, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia.
In the annual rankings, the cities tied for tenth place.
The Economist ranked 172 cities based on a range of variables such as crime rates, health care, political stability, infrastructure, and green space access.
The top ten cities had relaxed their Covid restrictions, allowing inhabitants’ lives to return to normal.
Because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Economist did not include Kyiv in this year’s rankings. Because of Vladimir Putin’s war, Moscow and St. Petersburg have fallen in the rankings due to ‘increased instability, censorship, and the imposition of Western sanctions.’
These are the top 10 “most liveable cities,” according to MailOnline.
1. Vienna, Austria
Vienna, with a population of 1.9 million people, topped the rankings as the most liveable city in 2022, with a score of 99.1 out of 100, as it did in 2019 and 2018.
Last year, the city fell to 12th position in the rankings because its museums and restaurants were closed due to the epidemic, but these cultural centers have since reopened.
Vienna is famous for its imperial architecture, which includes gilded palaces and decadent opera houses filled with classical music.
Aside from the gorgeous surroundings, it is known as’red Vienna’ for its left-wing leaning, and residents can expect good healthcare, stability, low-cost public services, and an abundance of social housing.
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
With a flawless score for infrastructure, education, and stability – and an overall score of 98 – Copenhagen jumped 13 places in this year’s Global Liveability Index.
Because of Copenhagen’s emphasis on preventative measures, the city boasts a low crime rate, which is currently at its lowest in more than a decade.
Denmark became the first European Union country to abolish all domestic Covid restrictions, allowing residents to resume normal life and enjoy cultural events and restaurants.
3. Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich scored third in the liveability index with a score of 96.3, owing to its reputation as a secure and green city as well as a significant financial center.
The mid-sized city is also incredibly wealthy, and the creators of the index stated that this combination resulted in the city performing ‘exceptionally well’ in the poll.
According to the Economist, the city has recovered after the epidemic due to its stability, solid infrastructure, and services.
4. Calgary, Canada
Calgary, meanwhile, improved from 18th to third place, tied with Zurich, with a score of 96.3.
The creators of the index attribute this large increase to the city’s elimination of Covid restrictions, which has freed its inhabitants to resume their everyday activities.
The city received the highest grade because its residents had access to quality healthcare, infrastructure, and education.
5. Vancouver, Canada
Canada had three cities in the top ten most liveable cities, and Vancouver was one of them, with a score of 96.1.
‘Cities that were towards the top of our rankings prior to the pandemic have rebounded on the strength of their stability, solid infrastructure and services, and enjoyable leisure activities,’ wrote the index’s authors.
Vancouver, located on Canada’s west coast, has the highest population in the country and is one of the most ethnically and linguistically varied cities, with 50% of citizens belonging to minority groups.
Vancouver, one of the world’s greenest cities, is also one of the most costly.
6. Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva was named the sixth most liveable city in the world, with the writers of the index awarding the city a perfect score of 100 for its superb healthcare and a score of 95.9 overall.
Because it is the home of many UN organizations, the city is a financial and diplomatic center.
As a result, Geneva fared highly in terms of stability and infrastructure.
7. Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt advanced 32 positions in a year to earn seventh place with a score of 95.7 this year in the annual liveability index.
Because to the significant improvement, Frankfurt was the only city to rank among the top ten most livable cities.
Frankfurt is recognized as Germany’s financial center, but it also contains a great number of cultural landmarks that make it a desirable place to reside.
8. Toronto, Canada
In the index, Toronto received a score of 95.4 overall, with a perfect score of 100 for healthcare and infrastructure.
The city has recently relaxed its Covid restrictions, allowing its 2.93 million residents to visit prominent monuments like as the CN Tower and museums.
The city also includes a variety of neighborhoods, each of which is a tiny cultural hub with its own restaurants and parks.
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
The city of Amsterdam rose from 30th to ninth in the rankings this year, with a score of 95.3, owing partly to the removal of Covid restrictions.
Despite an increase in cases, the Dutch government lifted the last remaining Covid restrictions in March, as the country learns to live with the virus.
The city received above 90 points in each of the five categories, but it received 100 points in healthcare.
10. Osaka, Japan and Melbourne, Australia
With a score of 95.1, Osaka, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia tied for tenth place in the ranking.
Melbourne was once again ranked first in Australia, while Osaka was the only Asian city to make the top ten this year.
The two cities’ key draws are their solid stability and good infrastructure, which are complemented by good healthcare and cultural and recreational options.
Citizens can now access healthcare, cultural sites, and education thanks to the relaxation of Covid restrictions.
Paris, France’s capital, finished 19th, up 23 places from previous year.
Brussels, the Belgian capital, was ranked 24th, only below Montreal, Canada.
The capital of the United Kingdom, London, was ranked 33rd in the globe, while Barcelona and Madrid in Spain were ranked 35th and 43rd, respectively.
Milan in Italy was ranked 49th, New York in the United States was ranked 51st, and Beijing in China was ranked 71st.
Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, which was devastated by a port explosion in 2020 and is currently facing a catastrophic financial crisis, was not included in the list of commercial locations.
Neither was Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, after the Russian invasion on February 24 caused the EIU to abandon their assessment.