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World’s Most Liveable Cities in 2019
Magazine Desk
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently launched, ‘The Global Liveability Index 2019’. According to the Report, the Index assesses, ‘which locations around the world provide the best or the worst living conditions’. The index covers 140 cities around the world, which are assessed on five broad indicators: (1) stability, (2) healthcare, (3) culture and environment, (4) education, and (5) infrastructure. These five categories, in turn, evaluate the relative comfort of these cities on thirty quantitative and qualitative sub-indicators/factors. For the first time, the index noted the effects of climate change on liveability, with Indian capital New Delhi and Egyptian capital Cairo plunging in the rankings to 118th and 125th place respectively due to “poor air quality, undesirable average temperatures and inadequate water provision”.
Vienna has held off Melbourne to retain the top spot on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index for 2019, further strengthening its reputation as the world’s most pleasant city. Here is a list of the world’s most liveable cities 2019:
- Vienna, Austria
With an overall rating of 99.1 out of a possible 100, Vienna has been named the most liveable city in the world for the second year in a row. The Austrian capital has consistently scored high in similar surveys, with human resource consulting firm Mercer also ranking Vienna first in its Quality of Living Survey every year for a decade (2009 – 2019).
- Melbourne, Australia
Before being beaten by Vienna in 2018, Melbourne topped the “Global Liveability Index” list for seven years running. With a score of 98.4 in 2019, it has once again fallen just short of the top spot, but still achieved scores of 100 in healthcare, education and infrastructure. Thanks to its thriving arts scene, Melbourne is often dubbed Australia’s cultural capital.
- Sydney, Australia
According to The Economic Intelligence Unit, Sydney has risen from fifth to third place this year owing to renewed efforts towards tackling the impacts of climate change, improving its culture and environment score. But Australia’s most populous city still remains one spot behind its rival, Melbourne.
- Osaka, Japan
Osaka dropped from third to fourth place this year — but it didn’t make it into the top 10 until 2018, following a decline in crime rates and an overall improvement in the quality of transportation. The port city is one of Japan’s economic powerhouses and is the second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo.
- Calgary, Canada
Although it dropped from fourth to fifth in this year’s survey, Calgary remains the most liveable city in North America, beating out its other Canadian rivals, Vancouver and Toronto. Home to 1.3 million people, Calgary is often recognized for its high quality of life.
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- Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver was previously ranked the most livable city from 2002 to 2010, and again in 2015. Despite falling a few spots, British Columbia’s most populous city still boasts a very high liveability score of 97.3 — including perfect scores in healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
- Toronto, Canada
Toronto rounds out the North American cities included on the list with an overall livability score of 97.2. Canada’s most populous city has also been named the most multicultural contemporary city in the world. 51% of its residents were born outside of Canada and it is home to over 230 different nationalities.
- Tokyo, Japan
In the lead-up to the 2020 Summer Olympics, host city Tokyo has undergone a rapid transformation, no doubt contributing to its score of 97.2. Tokyo is also known for being one of the safest cities in the world and is popular with tourists looking to experience both the ultramodern and the traditional in one bustling metropolis.
- Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is the only other European city included in the top ten livable cities list after Vienna. Despite the relatively high cost of living, Denmark’s capital offers excellent infrastructure and healthcare. It also hopes to become the world’s most cycle-friendly city, with authorities aiming to increase the percentage of commuters who travel by bicycle to 50% by 2025.
- Adelaide, Australia
Finally, Adelaide brings the total number of Australian cities included in the top 10 to three. With a population of 1.3 million, the so-called City of Churches is smaller than its higher-ranked counterparts, but is becoming increasingly known for its world-class wineries, pristine beaches and growing foodie scene.
The world’s least liveable cities 2019
- Damascus, Syria
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Tripoli, Libya
- Karachi, Pakistan
- Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Douala, Cameroon
- Algiers, Algeria
- Caracas, Venezuela
Karachi at 136th place
Karachi has been named among the 10 least liveable cities in the world in the Global Liveability Index 2019. The metropolis has been ranked 136th on the list — the fifth least liveable city in the world — only managing to fare better than Damascus in Syria, Lagos in Nigeria, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Tripoli in Libya.
Karachi’s overall rating out of 100, which EIU stated was ideal, was 40.9, its stability rating was 20, healthcare 45.8, culture and environment 38.7, education 66.7 and infrastructure 51.8. The city’s ranking, however, has improved by one spot in comparison to 2018 when it was listed on the 137th position.
