Even in wealthy, well-developed places, liveability isn’t guaranteed. Stability remains the deciding factor and that can shift things quickly.
Every year, the Global Liveability Index gives us a snapshot of what it’s like to live in cities around the world. And it’s not about tourism or luxury, it’s about everyday life. It tracks things like public healthcare, education systems, infrastructure, safety, and whether a city’s environment supports a decent quality of life.
In this year’s review, Copenhagen landed in the number one spot, ending Vienna’s three-year streak at the top. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) scored 173 cities around the world, and while the average score held steady at 76.1, many cities moved up or down based on new risks, improvements, or system changes.
Here’s how the top ten cities looked in the 2025 list:
Western Europe and Asia-Pacific cities continue to lead. Australia alone has three cities in the top 10. Japan and New Zealand are also represented, while Canada hangs on with Vancouver.
Related story: These are the world’s 10 most walkable cities—and you probably won’t recognize some of them
Related story: Metro Manila not among the ‘10 least liveable cities in the word’—but it doesn’t mean things have improved
What happened to Vienna?
For the past three years, Vienna held the top spot. It had good scores in healthcare, education, and infrastructure and still does. But two recent incidents affected Vienna’s score. In mid-2024, a bomb threat forced the cancellation of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert. Then, earlier this year, police foiled a planned attack at a train station. These events didn’t just make headlines, they affected Vienna’s security rating, which directly impacted its overall rank.
Related story: Taylor Swift buys back her masters after a six-year battle
Related story: End of an era: Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ in numbers
Copenhagen, in contrast, got perfect marks in stability, education, and infrastructure. It also scored high in healthcare and culture. Its well-planned public transport, consistent safety record, and strong education system helped it become the most liveable city in the world in 2025 with a total score of 98.0 out of 100.
How are these scores decided?
The Global Liveability Index uses over 30 indicators, both data-based and expert-assessed. Each city is rated in five categories:
- Stability (25%) – includes crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and military conflict
- Healthcare (20%) – looks at quality and access to both private and public healthcare
- Culture & Environment (25%) – covers climate, green spaces, arts, censorship, and corruption
- Education (10%) – focuses on the availability and quality of public and private schools
- Infrastructure (20%) – evaluates roads, public transport, housing, water, energy, and internet
Each category is weighted and combined into a total score.
Related story: Europe 101: A guide for first-time travelers to the continent
Related story: Get your flannels on! Air Canada to launch non-stop service between Vancouver and Manila
Related story: Tax refund guide: How much can you really save shopping abroad?
Cities that dropped
The biggest drop this year came from Calgary, Canada, which fell from 5th to 18th place. A noticeable drop in its healthcare score, other Canadian cities like Toronto and Montreal were also affected.
In the UK, three major cities lost ground. London dropped from 45th to 54th, Manchester fell nine spots, and Edinburgh is now 64th. All three saw their stability scores decline after riots in 2024, sparked by a violent attack in Southport that led to widespread unrest and public backlash over misinformation.
Some cities in Asia, including parts of India, Taiwan, and Iran, dropped in the rankings due to rising political tension and the threat of conflict. In Tehran, instability grew following clashes with the U.S. and fallout from the Israel-Gaza war. Taiwan’s score slipped amid pressure from China, while a deadly attack in India led to military conflict with Pakistan.
Who’s climbing the list
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia jumped 13 spots. It now sits at 135th. As part of its Vision 2030 plan, the country invested heavily in healthcare and education, which helped improve the city’s score.
Jakarta also moved up 10 places while other cities that showed notable gains include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Athens, and Abu Dhabi all rising due to gradual improvements.
The cities that are still struggling
These results are shaped by conflict, poor infrastructure, and weak public services. These are the ten lowest-ranked cities in 2025:
Damascus remains at the very bottom, despite a regime change in late 2024. Years of war and a collapsed healthcare system continue to weigh down its score. Other cities like Kyiv, Port Moresby, and Lagos also rank low.
What these rankings say about the world
While some regions, especially the Middle East and Southeast Asia are improving, global stability is still struggling. Terror threats, political unrest, healthcare crisis, and international tensions affected scores in cities that previously ranked high. Even in wealthy, well-developed places, liveability isn’t guaranteed. Stability remains the deciding factor and that can shift quickly.
The 2025 Global Liveability Index shows that the most liveable cities aren’t just the ones with clean streets or fast internet. They’re the ones that keep people safe, offer strong public services, and stay prepared for whatever comes next.
