The EIU, a sister organisation to The Economist magazine, ranked 173 cities globally based on different factors, including education, stability, healthcare, infrastructure and culture. Check which nations made it into the top 7.

The EIU, a sister organisation to The Economist magazine, ranked 173 cities globally based on different factors, including education, stability, healthcare, infrastructure and culture. Check which nations made it into the top 7.

World's top 7 most liveable cities in 2026 — Check where India and Pakistan stand

In recent years many people have been moving to different cities to find better jobs and improved living conditions. This has led to a growing focus on creating 'liveable cities'— places that are safe, inclusive, eco-friendly, offer good healthcare, education and job opportunities for everyone. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently released the Global Liveability Index 2025, ranking 173 cities around the world. The average score this year was 76.1 out of 100, which is the same as last year.&nbsp;While many cities saw improvements in education, healthcare and infrastructure, there was a slight drop in stability, down by 0.2 points. This drop is mainly because of global issues like political unrest, rising conflicts and housing problems.&nbsp;Once again, cities in Western Europe topped the rankings, followed by several cities in the Asia-Pacific region. Vancouver was the only North American city to make it into the top ten.&nbsp;Meanwhile, many cities in the Middle East and Africa were among the lowest ranked but still there were small improvements in areas like healthcare and education.&nbsp;Some cities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE showed progress especially Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia. &nbsp;Al Khobar is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which is helping the country invest more in healthcare and education to reduce its reliance on oil.&nbsp;The world’s most liveable cities in 2025:&nbsp;1. Copenhagen, Denmark – Took the top spot with perfect scores in safety, education and infrastructure. Known for clean streets and a strong cycling culture. 2. Vienna, Austria – Famous for its strong infrastructure, safety and cultural life. 3. Zurich, Switzerland – Highly rated for its healthcare, education and stability. 4. Melbourne, Australia – Known for its cultural mix and top-class healthcare and education. 5. Geneva, Switzerland – A consistent performer in livability rankings. 6. Sydney, Australia – Offers a high quality of life and good public services. 7. Osaka, Japan – The only Asian city in the top 10, praised for its consistent performance. 8. Auckland, New Zealand – Offers a good lifestyle and urban planning. 9. Adelaide, Australia – Regularly scores well in global livability indexes. 10. Vancouver, Canada – A top city in North America with strong infrastructure and healthcare.&nbsp;The world's least liveable cities in 2025:&nbsp;1. Damascus, Syria – Ranked lowest due to ongoing war and insecurity. 2. Tripoli, Libya – Struggles with healthcare, safety and infrastructure. 3. Dhaka, Bangladesh – Faces major issues with pollution, healthcare and traffic. 4. Karachi, Pakistan – Affected by crime, weak infrastructure and limited healthcare. 5. Algiers, Algeria – Low scores in safety, infrastructure and healthcare. 6. Lagos, Nigeria – Struggles with poor living conditions and services. 7. Harare, Zimbabwe – Suffers from economic issues and poor infrastructure. 8. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – High crime and weak city systems.&nbsp;9. Kyiv, Ukraine - The main reason behind this position is the high level of danger caused by daily shelling and the constant threat to the civilian population.&nbsp;10. Caracas, Venezuela - It has highest homicide rates globally and there is no surprise that its capital struggles with liveability. &nbsp;

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently released the Global Liveability Index 2025, ranking 173 cities around the world. The average score this year was 76.1 out of 100, which is the same as last year.

In recent years many people have been moving to different cities to find better jobs and improved living conditions. This has led to a growing focus on creating 'liveable cities'— places that are safe, inclusive, eco-friendly, offer good healthcare, education and job opportunities for everyone. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently released the Global Liveability Index 2025, ranking 173 cities around the world. The average score this year was 76.1 out of 100, which is the same as last year. While many cities saw improvements in education, healthcare and infrastructure, there was a slight drop in stability, down by 0.2 points. This drop is mainly because of global issues like political unrest, rising conflicts and housing problems. Once again, cities in Western Europe topped the rankings, followed by several cities in the Asia-Pacific region. Vancouver was the only North American city to make it into the top ten. Meanwhile, many cities in the Middle East and Africa were among the lowest ranked but still there were small improvements in areas like healthcare and education. Some cities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE showed progress especially Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia. Al Khobar is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which is helping the country invest more in healthcare and education to reduce its reliance on oil. The world’s most liveable cities in 2025: 1. Copenhagen, Denmark – Took the top spot with perfect scores in safety, education and infrastructure. Known for clean streets and a strong cycling culture. 2. Vienna, Austria – Famous for its strong infrastructure, safety and cultural life. 3. Zurich, Switzerland – Highly rated for its healthcare, education and stability. 4. Melbourne, Australia – Known for its cultural mix and top-class healthcare and education. 5. Geneva, Switzerland – A consistent performer in livability rankings. 6. Sydney, Australia – Offers a high quality of life and good public services. 7. Osaka, Japan – The only Asian city in the top 10, praised for its consistent performance. 8. Auckland, New Zealand – Offers a good lifestyle and urban planning. 9. Adelaide, Australia – Regularly scores well in global livability indexes. 10. Vancouver, Canada – A top city in North America with strong infrastructure and healthcare. The world's least liveable cities in 2025: 1. Damascus, Syria – Ranked lowest due to ongoing war and insecurity. 2. Tripoli, Libya – Struggles with healthcare, safety and infrastructure. 3. Dhaka, Bangladesh – Faces major issues with pollution, healthcare and traffic. 4. Karachi, Pakistan – Affected by crime, weak infrastructure and limited healthcare. 5. Algiers, Algeria – Low scores in safety, infrastructure and healthcare. 6. Lagos, Nigeria – Struggles with poor living conditions and services. 7. Harare, Zimbabwe – Suffers from economic issues and poor infrastructure. 8. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – High crime and weak city systems. 9. Kyiv, Ukraine - The main reason behind this position is the high level of danger caused by daily shelling and the constant threat to the civilian population. 10. Caracas, Venezuela - It has highest homicide rates globally and there is no surprise that its capital struggles with liveability.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently released the Global Liveability Index 2025, ranking 173 cities around the world. The average score this year was 76.1 out of 100, which is the same as last year.

World’s top 10 most and least liveable cities in 2025: Only one Asian city ranks high

In the recently released Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Democracy Index report, Norway has taken the top spot, while Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand and Canada have made it to the top five.&nbsp;

The report, which is titled "Democracy in sickness and in health?", looks to provide a snapshot of the current state of democracy worldwide for 167 countries.&nbsp;

Out of 167 countries, the Democracy Index has classified 23 countries as full democracies, 52 as flawed democracies, 35 as hybrid regimes and 57 as authoritarian regimes.&nbsp;

In 2020 Democracy Index's global ranking, India is ranked (53) higher than most of its neighbouring countries. Among India's neighbours, Sri Lanka, at 68th rank, has been classified as a flawed democracy, Bangladesh (76), Bhutan (84) and Pakistan (105) have been classified in the 'hybrid regime' category. Afghanistan has been ranked 139th and classified as an 'authoritarian regime' in the index.&nbsp;

The EIU report looks at the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on freedom and democracy around the world.&nbsp;

The Asia and Australasia region includes top-scoring New Zealand, which retained its fourth position in the global ranking (out of 167 countries), and persistent laggard North Korea at the bottom of the global ranking in 167th place, the EIU said in a statement.&nbsp;

The region’s overall score fell in 2020, but it now has five “full democracies” with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan moving up the rankings compared with 2019.&nbsp;

Australia retains its “full democracy” status and high ranking (9th).&nbsp;

Despite these upgrades, Asia’s average regional score deteriorated to its lowest level since 2013 as official measures taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic led to some of the most severe constraints on individual freedoms and civil liberties in the world, the EIU said.&nbsp;

China, Singapore and others went much further than the rest of the world in tracking and policing their citizens and locking them down in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it said.&nbsp;

By contrast, European governments were slow to act, some health systems came close to collapse and public trust in government declined, Hoey added.&nbsp;

The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU) is the world's leading resource for economic and business research, forecasting and analysis, a statement said.&nbsp;

In the recently released Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Democracy Index report, Norway has taken the top spot, while Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand and Canada have made it to the top five.

In the recently released Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Democracy Index report, Norway has taken the top spot, while Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand and Canada have made it to the top five. The report, which is titled "Democracy in sickness and in health?", looks to provide a snapshot of the current state of democracy worldwide for 167 countries. Out of 167 countries, the Democracy Index has classified 23 countries as full democracies, 52 as flawed democracies, 35 as hybrid regimes and 57 as authoritarian regimes. In 2020 Democracy Index's global ranking, India is ranked (53) higher than most of its neighbouring countries. Among India's neighbours, Sri Lanka, at 68th rank, has been classified as a flawed democracy, Bangladesh (76), Bhutan (84) and Pakistan (105) have been classified in the 'hybrid regime' category. Afghanistan has been ranked 139th and classified as an 'authoritarian regime' in the index. The EIU report looks at the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on freedom and democracy around the world. The Asia and Australasia region includes top-scoring New Zealand, which retained its fourth position in the global ranking (out of 167 countries), and persistent laggard North Korea at the bottom of the global ranking in 167th place, the EIU said in a statement. The region’s overall score fell in 2020, but it now has five “full democracies” with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan moving up the rankings compared with 2019. Australia retains its “full democracy” status and high ranking (9th). Despite these upgrades, Asia’s average regional score deteriorated to its lowest level since 2013 as official measures taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic led to some of the most severe constraints on individual freedoms and civil liberties in the world, the EIU said. China, Singapore and others went much further than the rest of the world in tracking and policing their citizens and locking them down in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it said. By contrast, European governments were slow to act, some health systems came close to collapse and public trust in government declined, Hoey added. The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU) is the world's leading resource for economic and business research, forecasting and analysis, a statement said.

Norway tops EIU's Democracy Index, Pakistan takes 105th spot

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