The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released its annual Global Liveability Index for 2024, ranking 173 cities worldwide. This comprehensive study evaluates cities based on crucial factors that impact daily life. These factors include health care, culture and environment, stability, infrastructure, and education.
The results of this year’s index reveal interesting shifts in global urban livability. While some cities maintained their positions from previous years, others saw significant changes. The rankings provide valuable insights into the qualities that make a city truly livable and highlight areas where improvements are needed.
Vienna Maintains Top Spot
Vienna, Austria, has once again been crowned the most liveable city in the world. The Austrian capital retained its top position for the third consecutive year. Vienna received perfect scores in four out of five categories assessed by the EIU. The city’s only lower score was in the culture and environment category, due to a perceived lack of significant sporting events.
Copenhagen and Zurich Follow Closely
Denmark’s Copenhagen held onto its second-place position from the previous year. Zurich, Switzerland, made a notable jump from sixth place to claim the third spot on the list. These two European cities showcase the region’s strong performance in urban livability. Their high rankings reflect their excellence in key areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Canada’s Performance and Challenges
Canadian cities showed a mixed performance in the 2024 Global Liveability Index. Calgary tied for fifth place and Vancouver shared seventh, while Toronto dropped from the top 10 to 12th place. Canada scored high in education but lower in infrastructure due to an acute housing crisis. This housing challenge has affected several regions across the country, impacting overall liveability scores.
Australia’s Strong Showing and Challenges
Australian cities maintained a strong presence in the 2024 Global Liveability Index. Melbourne secured the fourth position, while Sydney shared seventh place with Vancouver. These high rankings reflect Australia’s overall high quality of life and well-developed urban infrastructure. However, rental property availability in Australian cities is at an all-time low and purchase prices are rising despite interest rate increases.
Japan and New Zealand Round Out Top 10
Osaka, Japan, and Auckland, New Zealand, completed the top 10, tying for ninth place. These cities represent the Asia-Pacific region in the upper echelons of the list. Their presence in the top 10 demonstrates that liveable cities can be found across different continents and cultures.
Western Europe’s Strong Performance
Western European cities performed well overall in the 2024 rankings. Thirty cities from the region scored an average of 92 out of 100. This high average score reflects the generally high quality of life in Western European urban centers. However, the region did see a decline in stability scores compared to previous years.
Stability Concerns in Western Europe
The decline in stability scores for Western European cities was attributed to increasing instances of disruptive protests and crime. These factors impacted the overall liveability scores for some cities in the region. The EIU noted that these issues could pose challenges for maintaining high liveability standards in the future.
United States Cities in the Rankings
Honolulu, Hawaii, was the highest-ranking U.S. city on the list, coming in at 23rd place. Atlanta, Georgia, moved up four places to reach number 29. Los Angeles was further down the list in 58th place, while New York ranked 70th. These rankings suggest room for improvement in liveability for many major U.S. cities.
North America’s Education Strength
North America achieved the highest average score for education among all regions assessed. This highlights the strength of educational systems in North American cities. However, the region faced challenges in other areas, particularly in infrastructure scores.
Housing Crisis Impact in North America
Infrastructure scores in Canada were lower than the previous year due to an acute housing crisis. This crisis has affected several regions in the country. The EIU report noted that the availability of rental properties is at an all-time low in both Canada and Australia. Purchase prices have continued to rise despite interest rate increases.
United Kingdom’s Performance
London, the capital of the United Kingdom, was ranked as the 45th most liveable city in the world. This middle-of-the-pack ranking suggests that while London offers many advantages, it also faces challenges in certain liveability factors. The city’s position indicates room for improvement in various aspects of urban life.
Improvements in Asian Cities
Hong Kong saw the largest score improvement since last year, climbing from 61st place to 50th. This jump was due to improvements in the city’s stability and healthcare scores. The progress made by Hong Kong demonstrates that cities can enhance their liveability through focused improvements in key areas.
Middle Eastern Cities on the Rise
Cities in the United Arab Emirates saw some of the biggest score increases this year. Abu Dhabi and Dubai both climbed up the rankings. Saudi Arabian cities Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar also made significant gains. These improvements reflect ongoing development efforts in Middle Eastern urban centers.
Impact of Conflict on Liveability
Tel Aviv, Israel, experienced one of the biggest declines in the rankings. The city dropped 20 places to 112th position due to the Israel-Hamas war. This significant drop highlights how conflicts and instability can severely impact a city’s liveability score.
Cities at the Bottom of the List
Damascus, Syria, continued to rank as the least liveable city in the world. Tripoli in Libya, Algiers in Algeria, and Lagos in Nigeria ranked just above Damascus. The EIU noted that none of the bottom four cities had seen any improvement in their overall scores since 2023. These rankings underscore the challenges faced by cities in conflict zones or with severe economic difficulties.
US Capitol Targeted in Large-Scale Dark Web Cyber Attack
US Capitol Targeted in Large-Scale Dark Web Cyber Attack
Forget Weight: 5 Health Markers That Really Matter
