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The Danish capital, Copenhagen, has dethroned Vienna to become the most liveable city in the world. The city earned perfect scores in infrastructure, education, and stability, pushing it to the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2025.
Vienna, which held the top spot for three consecutive years, slipped to second place due to a drop in its stability score triggered by recent terror threats. Despite this, it still leads in healthcare and maintains excellent scores in other categories.
Only one Asian city made it into the top 10 this year. While cities in Japan and Australia performed well, they couldn’t crack the highest ranks. The Asia-Pacific region did see overall gains in education and infrastructure.
Vancouver remains North America’s only entry in the top 10, thanks to its consistent high scores in healthcare, infrastructure, and environment. However, the US continues to struggle with urban crime and political instability affecting its city rankings.
Six of the top 10 most liveable cities in 2025 are from Western Europe. Cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Frankfurt continue to impress with their public transport, education systems, and quality of life.
Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia is among the biggest risers this year. Thanks to the Vision 2030 reforms, the city improved its scores in education and healthcare. However, instability in the broader region continues to hold others back.
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit- Global Liveability Index 2025
Damascus once again ranked at the very bottom with a dismal score of 30.7, plagued by war and crumbling infrastructure. Tripoli (Libya), Dhaka (Bangladesh), and Karachi (Pakistan) also remain in the bottom 10, with minimal improvements.
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit- Global Liveability Index 2025
India continues to face challenges in the Global Liveability Index 2025, with none of its major cities making it to the top half of the rankings. New Delhi and Mumbai ranked 120 and 121 in the liveability list. Cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai showed modest improvements in infrastructure and education, but rising pollution levels, traffic congestion, and political instability have impacted their overall scores.
Additionally, growing concerns over healthcare accessibility and urban safety have kept Indian cities from climbing higher. The stability score, in particular, took a hit due to socio-political tensions and security concerns. Though there’s visible progress in tech hubs and metro expansions, India still has a long way to go before it competes with global leaders in liveability.
Political tensions, threats of conflict, and civil unrest caused a global 0.2-point drop in stability scores. Cities like Tehran and those in Taiwan and parts of India saw noticeable ranking drops due to these concerns.
Despite geopolitical issues, global averages in healthcare and education have improved slightly. Better facilities and post-COVID policy investments played a role in this rise, especially in the Middle East and South Asia.
1. Copenhagen
2. Vienna
3. Zurich
4. Geneva
5. Vancouver
6. Frankfurt
7. Amsterdam
8. Osaka
9. Melbourne
10. Munich
1. Damascus
2. Tripoli
3. Dhaka
4. Karachi
5. Port Moresby
As people continue to migrate to cities in search of better lives, these rankings shape global conversations about urban planning, investment, and migration. They help governments, businesses, and citizens make informed decisions about where to live and work.
(Image Credits: Freepik)
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