Discover the top liveable cities in Australia, Canada and Europe

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its most recent Global Liveability Index in August 2024, which evaluates the world's most and least livable cities.

The index scored 172 cities in five categories: culture, health care, education, infrastructure, and entertainment.

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European cities dominated the list of Most Liveable Cities in 2024 thanks to factors like stability and good infrastructure. Australian, Canadian, and Japanese cities made the cut also. Here are the top 10 best cities to live in:

Vienna, in Austria, was ranked as the best place to live in the world because of its good infrastructure, good healthcare and various alternatives for culture and entertainment. It also ranked #1 in 2018, 2019, and 2022.

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Scandinavian cities are known for their great life quality, having free education and healthcare and low crime rates. Furthermore, Copenhagen particularly has a vibrant art and food scene.

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Cities in Switzerland tend to rank high among quality of life lists thanks to their well-developed social market economy. Zurich is also extremely well-connected through public transport and it’s a very safe city. However, the cost of living is one of the highest in Europe.

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Melbourne is a safe and sunny place to live with a very high quality of life. With a low crime rate, great public transport and streets that boast a European air, it is hardly surprising it is a popular place to live and that it was ranked so highly.

Calgary might be one of the coldest cities in Canada but it is still one of the best places to live in the Great White North. Calgary boasts a high score in stability, healthcare and education.

Besides having a lot of nature around it, Geneva has really good education and a ton of leisure activity options. However, as it happens with Zurich, the cost of living is pretty high.

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Coming in at number 7 is Sydney, Australia, a city which boasts a mild climate, diverse cultural scene, and strong economy. Add in access to pristine beaches and an array of national parks that are close to the city it is hardly surprising it was ranked in the top ten cities to live in.

Vancouver has a milder climate than Calgary but is actually less sunny and very rainy. However, it is safe, clean, and has a flourishing and diverse economy and multicultural environment.

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Osaka is an extremely safe city to live in, rating 10/10 in that category. It also has very high ratings in housing, business freedom and healthcare.

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Auckland is considered to be one of the safest cities in the world, with low crime rates and a strong sense of community. Add in the fact that Auckland's residents are known for their friendliness and welcoming nature, it isn't surprising so many people want to live there.

The global liveability index also ranked the worst cities in the world to live in. What they all seem to have in common are serious social and political issues, and safety concerns.

Damascus, in Syria, is the oldest capital in the world and a major cultural center for the Arab world. However, what makes Syria the worst place to live in is the ongoing violent civil war.

Tripoli, the capital of Libya, made the list because of its civil war. Even though it ended in 2020, violence hasn’t come to an end. Far from it, there are growing fears of a new civil war.

The capital of Algeria made it to  the list of the worst cities to live in  because of increasing terrorist activity due to the presence of Islamist groups. Furthermore, there’s a lack of basic services and high unemployment.

Lagos, the cultural capital of Nigeria, made the list because, according to the U.S. Department of State, it is known for crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and maritime crime.

Ethnopolitical, sectarian, militant, and criminal violence plagues Pakistan’s largest city and commercial center Karachi. A failure of the major political parties to agree to a solution threatens to destabilize all of Pakistan.

Social, ethnic, and religious conflicts are latent in Bangladesh, and it reflects in its capital’s daily life. Furthermore, Bangladesh is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, and most at risk from climate change.

With a very violent political culture, security forces have committed human rights’ violations that have not been addressed. Other human rights concerns include a severe water and sanitation crisis, forced evictions, and child marriages.   

Following conflict and election-related violence in Papua New Guinea, more than 15,000 were internally displaced. This also led to a disruption of education and a lack of basic services.

Due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Kyiv is among the worst cities in the world to live in. The constant danger of the war means it is a city that is not safe nor desireable to live in.

Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is not a city anyone wants to live in. The city faces immense challenges ranging from hyperinflation to widespread crime and political instability. Basic services like electricity and water are often unreliable, contributing to a severe decline in living conditions.

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