Vienna ranked most livable city, Delhi and Mumbai lag behind
Vienna, the capital of Austria, has been named the world's "most liveable city" for 2023, according to Global Liveability Index released by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The EIU, a sister organization to The Economist, ranked 173 cities around the world. Five Indian cities have also earned their place on the list: Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, New Delhi, and Mumbai.
Parameters on which the rankings are based
Cities were evaluated and ranked based on important factors like healthcare, education, stability, infrastructure, and the environment. Vienna, which has consistently ranked at the top in the past, received praise for its reliable infrastructure, impressive culture and entertainment offerings, and excellent education and healthcare services. These qualities have contributed to Vienna being recognized and appreciated as a great place to live and enjoy life.
The top 10 cities
After Vienna, Denmark's Copenhagen is in second place, maintaining its position. Australia's Melbourne and Sydney claim the third and fourth spots, respectively. Canada boasts the highest number of cities in the top 10: Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto. Swiss cities also shine in the index, with Zurich ranking sixth and Geneva tying for seventh place with Calgary. Osaka in Japan is ranked 10th.
Where do Indian cities stand in the rankings?
New Delhi and Mumbai have secured the 141st spot together. Chennai was ranked 144, Ahmedabad at 147, followed by Bengaluru at 148. According to the EIU, the index reached a 15-year high as the world rebounded from the pandemic. The average score now stands at 76.2 out of 100, an improvement from last year's 73.2.
Several European cities experienced significant declines
This year, several European cities experienced significant declines in the rankings. United Kingdom's capital London and Sweden's capital Stockholm, saw a sharp decline in their rankings. London dropped 12 places to 46th, while Stockholm fell 22 spots to 43rd. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, made its debut in the survey last year at 35th place but slipped to 58th place this year.
Asian cities outperformed European cities
"None of these cities has seen a particularly sharp decline in their index scores, but they have failed to make the gains that many other cities - particularly those in Asia - have made in the past year," states the report.
United States fails to impress in livability rankings
Honolulu, the largest city in Hawaii, was the highest US entry, coming in 25th place. Both San Diego and Los Angeles experienced a decline, dropping 17 places each. San Diego is now at 61st place, while Los Angeles is at 57th. It's interesting to note how US cities, which often captivate the interest of many Indians, have faced a slight setback in their rankings.
The least livable cities
Algiers in Algeria, Tripoli in Libya, and Damascus in Syria have been ranked as the three least livable cities in the world, respectively. Damascus, which has consistently ranked poorly in previous surveys, has shown no improvement this year as well. Kyiv in Ukraine has plummeted down the rankings due to the impact of the war and is now among the 10 least livable cities.
Removal of Covid restrictions boosted global livability
"The removal of Covid-related restrictions has overall boded well for global liveability in 2023," Upasana Dutt, Head of Liveability Index at EIU, said in a statement. Dutt also noted that education has gotten better, with children going back to school, and hospitals and healthcare systems are less burdened, "with some notable improvements in cities across developing economies of Asia and the Middle East."
Health improved, stability declined
According to the report, healthcare has improved the most, and education, culture and entertainment, and infrastructure has also seen positive changes. However, there has been a small decline in stability due to civil unrest and high living costs. "Of the five categories covered by our index, only stability has seen a decline," says Barsali Bhattacharyya, Industry Research Manager, EIU.
