The Economist publishes a ranking every year, of the cities with the best living conditions. The Liveability Index has seen improvements in 2023, escalating from an index score of 73.2 out of a possible 100 in 2022 to 76.2 this year. This is partially due to the Covid-19 pandemic finally settling, and as education and healthcare scores improving in many cities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The only area that saw decline was the category of stability, reflecting growing observations of corruption and civil unrest amidst a cost-of-living crisis, as well as an increase in crime in several cities.
As the Infographic shows, Vienna has been regarded as the most livable city in the world, with a remarkable score of 98.4 points. The Austrian capital has secured first position several times in recent years, all the thanks to its uncountable options for culture and entertainment, as well as the stability, excellent healthcare facilities and an admirable infrastructure. The Danish capital of Copenhagen and the Australian city of Melbourne are the next two cities to round off the podium.
Canada can be seen as the best represented country with
three metropolises (Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto) in the top 10, Australia
also does well, with both Melbourne and Sydney rising to near the top of the
ranking. This is partially due to the country’s healthcare improving with less
stress on it from Covid.
The spot acquired on the bottom of the list is Damascus in
Syria, Tripoli in Libya and Algiers in Algeria. The Ukrainian city of Kiev also
features in the bottom 10, having been added back to the index after it was
removed due to Russia’s invasion in 2022. It comes on rank 165, with its score
having fallen 5.9 percentage points since 2021 due to the damage inflicted on
the city in terms of stability, infrastructure and general livability.
The study is based on the "Global Liveability
Index", which determines and links the varying quality of life of each
city’s residents, grouped under five subcategories: infrastructure, healthcare,
culture and environment, education and stability. The full list comprises 173
cities.
Infographic by: statista
