In the latest survey by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), Vienna has reaffirmed its position as the world’s most liveable city for the third consecutive year.
The Austrian capital clinched the top spot due to its outstanding scores across stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, receiving perfect marks of 100 in these crucial categories.
Despite its stellar performance, the city was noted to have room for improvement in areas related to culture and environment.
The survey, which evaluated 173 cities worldwide, ranked them based on factors including healthcare quality, education accessibility, political stability, infrastructure reliability, and environmental quality.
Vienna’s consistent excellence secured its place at the pinnacle of liveability, setting a high standard for urban environments globally.
Contrasting Vienna’s success, Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub, garnered a ranking of 170th with a score of 42.2%.
The city’s position ahead of Algiers, Tripoli, and Damascus reflects ongoing challenges in areas such as infrastructure and stability despite its vibrant economic activity.
Western Europe emerged as the most liveable region overall yet faced a decline in stability scores due to increasing social unrest related to political movements and economic policies.
This trend underscores broader global challenges impacting urban liveability, including geopolitical tensions, civil unrest, and economic pressures such as housing crises and inflation.
Copenhagen and Zurich followed Vienna closely in the rankings, showcasing Western Europe’s dominance in providing high standards of living. Melbourne, Calgary, Geneva, Sydney, Vancouver, Osaka, and Auckland rounded out the top ten, highlighting a diverse representation of cities across different continents.
The global liveability index saw only marginal improvement over the past year, reflecting the persistent challenges faced by cities worldwide.
Factors contributing to this modest increase include geopolitical conflicts and economic uncertainties, which have tempered overall progress in enhancing urban liveability.
Tel Aviv experienced the most significant decline in the rankings, plummeting from 92nd to 112th place.
This decline was attributed to deteriorating scores in stability, cultural environment, and infrastructure, underscoring the city’s challenges amidst regional tensions and internal political dynamics.
Looking ahead, urban planners and policymakers are urged to address the multifaceted challenges impacting city liveability, from infrastructure development to social cohesion and environmental sustainability.
As cities strive to improve their rankings and enhance quality of life for residents, the EIU’s annual survey serves as a vital benchmark for assessing progress and identifying areas for targeted improvement.
In conclusion, while Vienna celebrates its continued dominance as the world’s most liveable city, cities like Lagos and Tel Aviv face ongoing challenges that highlight the complexities of urban development in a rapidly changing global landscape.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members