Copenhagen has been named the world’s most liveable city for the second consecutive year, according to The Economist’s annual Global Liveability Index.
The Danish capital retained the top spot in the latest ranking, with Western Europe once again emerging as the world’s strongest region for quality of life. No German city made the top 10.
Copenhagen received perfect scores of 100 in stability, education and infrastructure. The city’s extensive cycling network and emphasis on sustainable urban living were also highlighted among its strengths.
Vienna and Melbourne remained in second and third place respectively, unchanged from the previous ranking.
Sydney, Zurich, Geneva, Osaka, Adelaide, Vancouver and Tokyo completed the top 10.
No German city makes the top 10
Germany failed to place a city among the world’s 10 most liveable urban centres this year.
Frankfurt was the most recent German city to make the top 10, appearing in the ranking in 2022.
The latest results underline the continued strength of Western European cities, although the region’s lead over North America has narrowed.
173 cities assessed
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and analysis division of The Economist, assesses 173 cities every year as part of its Global Liveability Index.
The ranking evaluates cities across 30 indicators covering five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
Western Europe once again ranked as the world’s most liveable region, followed closely by North America.
The Middle East and North Africa, meanwhile, recorded the largest decline in liveability compared with the previous year.
The Economist attributed much of the deterioration to the war involving Iran and the broader instability affecting the region.
“The cities at the bottom of our index are almost universally affected by war, poverty or both,” the report said, noting that conflict-hit cities tend to receive particularly low scores for stability.
Damascus remains at the bottom
Damascus retained last place in the global ranking.
Tehran also entered the bottom 10 for the first time this year, reflecting the deterioration in stability and living conditions in the region.
The report highlights the strong relationship between security and liveability, with conflict and political instability having a significant impact on cities’ overall scores.
Copenhagen promotes sustainable tourism
Copenhagen’s position at the top of the ranking also coincides with efforts by the city to encourage more sustainable behaviour among visitors.
The city has introduced a scheme that rewards tourists for environmentally friendly activities as part of an effort to promote sustainable tourism.
Rikke Holm Petersen of Wonderful Copenhagen said the initiative was designed to encourage visitors to make more environmentally responsible choices during their stay.
A similar model has previously been tested in Berlin.
The latest ranking nevertheless reinforces Copenhagen’s position as one of the world’s leading cities for urban infrastructure, public services and stability, with the Danish capital maintaining its place at the top for another year.
Be First to Comment