Vienna has once again claimed the title of the most livable city in the world, according to The Economist’s 2024 Global Liveability Index. For the third consecutive year, this Austrian capital has topped the list, marking its ninth win in the last eleven index reports. Vienna’s dominance in the rankings were in line with its perfect scores in four out of the five assessed categories, though it did not achieve a complete sweep this year.
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The top 10 cities in the index remain largely similar to previous years, with a notable prominence of Western European cities. Vienna’s continued success highlights its consistent performance across the index’s criteria, which include stability, culture and environment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The Economist’s Global Liveability Index evaluates cities based on scores out of 100 in these five categories. Stability encompasses factors like terrorism threats, civil unrest, and crime rates. Education and healthcare scores are based on the quality and availability of these services. Infrastructure evaluates public transport, roads, housing, and utilities.
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This year’s average score has risen to 76.1 out of 100, reflecting improvements in education and healthcare. However, stability has seen a notable decline due to global instability, protests, and the ongoing cost of living crisis. Inflation and housing affordability issues have affected cities worldwide, with particular impacts in Australia and Canada, where housing costs have soared and rental availability has dwindled.
Western Europe maintains its status as the most liveable region, securing four spots in the top 10 and 30 cities overall. This region has achieved an impressive average score of 92 out of 100. Despite this, the overall score has slipped slightly from last year due to rising instability in countries like Germany and Ireland, which have experienced disruptive protests and social unrest.
Eastern Europe has made significant strides, particularly in education and healthcare, with Budapest, Belgrade, and Bucharest making notable improvements. Budapest rose seven places to 32nd, while Belgrade and Bucharest advanced to joint 94th position. However, several Western European cities saw declines, with Dublin falling seven places to 39th, and German cities like Munich and Hamburg also slipping in the rankings.
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The biggest drop was registered by Tel Aviv, which plummeted 20 places to 112th due to worsening stability scores related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, alongside declines in culture, environment, and infrastructure.
Overall, while Western Europe continues to lead in liveability, rising global challenges and local issues have influenced the rankings, reflecting a dynamic and evolving landscape of urban living conditions.