This year the world’s most livable city was Vienna, which knocked Melbourne, the leader for seven years, off its top spot. The annual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit looks at 140 cities around the world.
Zurich © Denis Linine | Dreamstime.com
Zurich and Geneva both rose in the 2018 global ranking. Zurich from 15th to 11th place, and Geneva from 18th to 14th.
1. Vienna 99.1
2. Melbourne 98.4
3. Osaka 97.7
4. Calgary 97.5
5. Sydney 97.4
6. Vancouver 97.3
7. Toronto 97.2
8. Tokyo 97.2
9. Copenhagen 96.8
10. Adelaide 96.6
11. Zurich 96.3
12. Frankfurt 96.0
12. Auckland 96.0
14. Geneva 95.9
14. Perth 95.9
When the field is narrowed to european cities, Zurich (3rd) and Geneva (5th) both make the top 5.
1. Vienna 99.1
2. Copenhagen 96.8
3. Zurich 96.3
4. Frankfurt 96.0
5. Geneva 95.9
Upwards movement in the top ranked cities was driven mainly by improvements in stability and safety. In the past, cities in Europe have been affected by the perceived threat of terrorism, which caused heightened security measures. The past six months have seen a return to normalcy, said the report.
Cities at the top of the ranking tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries often with relatively low population density. This usually allows for more recreational activities, lower crime levels and less overburdened infrastructure. And while Vienna and Osaka – both in the top ten – are relatively large, their central city populations are relatively small when compared to New York, London and Paris.
Small is livable it seems.
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