The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released its 2026 Global Livability Index, ranking 173 cities across 30 factors in five categories: health care, culture and environment, education, infrastructure, and stability. Copenhagen, Denmark, claimed the top spot, followed by Vienna, Austria, and Melbourne, Australia.
UK Cities Miss Top 10
No UK cities made the top 10. Manchester placed highest at 52nd, with London at 54th and Edinburgh at 64th. The study highlights that western Europe remains the strongest region for liveability, but its average score has stagnated, while Asia's has risen. Nine Asian cities now appear in the top 20, compared to seven European cities.
Top 10 Most Liveable Cities
The EIU's top 10 are: 1. Copenhagen, Denmark; 2. Vienna, Austria; 3. Melbourne, Australia; 4. Sydney, Australia; 5. Zurich, Switzerland; 6. Geneva, Switzerland; 7. Osaka, Japan; 8. Adelaide, Australia; 9. Vancouver, Canada; 10. Tokyo, Japan.
Least Liveable Cities
The bottom 10 cities are largely affected by war or poverty: Tehran (Iran), Harare (Zimbabwe), Kyiv (Ukraine), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Lagos (Nigeria), Algiers (Algeria), Karachi (Pakistan), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tripoli (Libya), and Damascus (Syria). All scored particularly poorly for stability.
