For the 6th consecutive year in a row, Melbourne has won the crown of Most Liveable City, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit‘s (EIU) Global Liveability Ranking.
The list ranks cities based on liveability factors such as healthcare, safety, education, infrastructure and environment in 140 cities around the world, and gives a snapshot of which cities offer the best and worst living conditions overall. These factors are rated, with scores from 1-100, as acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable or intolerable. A score of 1 is the lowest (intolerable) and a score of 100 is ideal. New York City is the relative city/point of reference.
Cities with higher rankings were usually mid-sized cities in more prosperous countries, owing much to their relative stability and low population density. These cities tend to enjoy many recreational activities without burdening their infrastructure, or increasing their crime rates. Cities moving up the ranks are also in countries where civil stability has improved. Although not in the top 10, cities like Tehran, Iran and Bangkok, Thailand have moved up for this reason.
Australian cities ranked fairly well this year, with 3 Australian cities featured on the list. Adelaide tied for 5th place with Calgary (Canada), whilst Perth moved from 9th place in 2015 to 7th place this year. Sydney fell off the top 10 list, despite it placing 7th in 2015, due to the city’s heightened perceived threat of terrorism, according to the EIU’s report.
In fact, many countries on the list have dropped in ranking, in part due to their declining stability rating. Ten cities in western Europe, for example, with Paris being one of them, dropped in ranking after suffering many terrorist attacks. Similarly, American cities such as Atlanta and Chicago have also dropped in ranking due to civil unrest.
Damascus, Syria is the lowest ranked city, at 30.2 out of a possible 100, largely due to its devastating civil war that has caused many Syrians to flee and seek refuge worldwide.
List of cities:
1. Melbourne, Australia
Overall rating: 97.5
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 95.1
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 100
2. Vienna, Austria
Overall rating: 97.4
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 94.4
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 100
3. Vancouver, Canada
Overall rating: 97.3
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 100
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 92.9
4. Toronto, Canada
Overall rating: 97.2
Stability: 100
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 97.2
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 89.3
5/6. Calgary, Canada (tie)
Overall rating: 96.6
Stability: 100
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 89.1
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 96.4
5/6. Adelaide, Australia (tie)
Overall rating: 96.6
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 94.2
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 96.4
7. Perth, Australia
Overall rating: 95.9
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 88.7
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 100
8. Auckland, New Zealand
Overall rating: 95.7
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 95.8
Culture & Environment: 97
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 92.9
9. Helsinki, Finland
Overall rating: 95.6
Stability: 90
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 88.7
Education: 91.7
Infrastructure: 96.4
10. Hamburg, Germany
Overall rating: 95
Stability: 90
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 93.5
Education: 91.7
Infrastructure: 100
———-
