Global Liveability Index: Best and Worst Performing Cities

Global Liveability Report is published by the Economic Intelligence Unit, ranking 173 cities around the world on their ‘liveability quotient’. Go through the list of best and worst ranking cities of the world based on their performance in various parameters like Education, Environment, Healthcare etc

Go through the Global Indices and India’s Ranking to get an understanding of India’s rank in various global indices.

About the Global Liveability Index

Global Liveability Index is an annual report on the World’s most liveable cities published by the Economic Intelligence Unit, the Research and Analysis division of ‘The Economist group’.173 cities across the world are ranked based on their liveability factor. Each of them is assigned a score for over 30 quantitative and qualitative factors across five broad categories. They are categorized into acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable, or intolerable.

The Concept of Liveability- The Concept of Liveability is assessing different locations across the world to find out which are having best and worst living conditions.  

Global Liveability Index 2022 – Best and Worst Performing Cities

Here are the top ten countries according to the Global Liveability Index 2022:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Calgary, Canada
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Toronto, Canada
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
10. Osaka, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia

The list of worst liveable cities around the world in 2022:

1. Tehran, Iran
2. Doula, Cameron
3. Harare, Zimbabwe
4. Dhaka, Bangladesh
5. Port Moresby, PNG
6. Karachi, Pakistan
7. Algiers, Algeria
8. Tripoli, Libya
9. Lagos, Nigeria
10. Damascus, Syria

Global liveability Index 2022 – Key Updates 

The Global Liveability Index has risen sharply in 2022. Scores of Education, healthcare, and environment have improved, following the ease of restrictions post Covid-19.

• Austrian Capital, Vienna, topped the Global Liveability Report, 2022, with a 99.1 rating. It replaced Auckland, which topped in 2021. Vienna ranked the 12th position in 2021 since most of its museums and restaurants were closed due to Covid-19. It rebounded to 1st place, which it also held in 2018 and 2019.
• Western European and Canadian cities dominated the top rankings, whereas the ranks of Eastern European cities slipped amidst an increased geopolitical crisis.
• Six out of ten ranks were bagged by European cities. Copenhagen (Denmark) has moved up 13 places from its position 12 months ago, to second, and Zurich (Switzerland) now shares third place with Calgary (Canada), which has risen from 18th position.
• Damascus in Syria and Tripoli in Libya continue to stay at the bottom of the list, along with Lagos in Nigeria. Social unrest, terrorism, and conflict have been the responsible factors for their low ranks.
• Kyiv, the Capital City of Ukraine, was not included in the list because of the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian crisis has also affected the Russian cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg and resulted in a record fall in scores due to increased censorship, instability, imposition of Western sanctions, and withdrawal of operations by foreign countries from Russia.
• 33 new cities have been added to the new rankings, taking the total number of cities to 172, excluding Kyiv. The additions bring the liveability survey in line with the Worldwide Cost of Living (WCOL) survey.
• In Liveability versus Cost of Living, Hong Kong has topped the list. New York City, Geneva, London, and Tokyo rounded up to the top five list in Liveability versus the cost of living.

India and Global Liveability Index 2022

• Five cities in India have found a place on the list for the first time. 
• The National Capital, New Delhi, has been ranked 112th on the list
• The financial capital, Mumbai, is ranked at 117th position. 
• Chennai and Ahmedabad are in the 142nd and 146th positions respectively.
• Till the previous year, only Mumbai and Delhi found a place on the list.

Five Categories of Global Liveability Index 

Overview of Global Liveability Index Categories:

• The ‘Stability’ factor is measured based on crime statistics and other information collected by the government. People prefer being safe and stable above all. People flee from war-stricken countries like Iran and Afghanistan, where crime rates are high and law enforcement mechanisms are weak. Many refugees move to other countries in search of safety and security. 
• The ‘Healthcare’ parameter includes accessibility to good healthcare services, doctors, public and private hospitals, and over-the-counter medicines. Countries like Canada, Australia, the USA, and Western Europe rank highly in healthcare facilities, whereas most African cities are ranked “poor”.
• The ‘Culture and Environment’ brings several indicators like weather, quality of air, water and parklands, social and religious rights, consumer goods, services, cultural diversity, corruption, etc.
• The ‘Infrastructure’ is based on several services and facilities like road, transport, sewage, telecommunications, electricity, airport, and housing. Together they constitute the infrastructure. Countries like Singapore are known for their best infrastructure, whereas countries like Dhaka have the worst infrastructure.
• ‘Education’ is evaluated based on accessibility to quality education in the public and private sectors.

About Economic Intelligence Unit

• It is the research and analysis division of ‘The Economist’.
• It was established in 1946.
• It is headquartered in London, England
• It provides assistance and advisory service through research and analysis.
• It releases economic forecasts, monthly country reports, industry reports, and country risk service reports.
• It incorporates Business International Corporation, a UK company acquired by its parent company in 1986.
• It has 4 main offices in four cities – London, New York, Hong Kong, and Dubai.
• The Managing Director is Robin Bew, a former Chief Economist, and Editorial Director
• It released the Democracy Index in 2006 and Government Broadband Index in 2011.

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About Global Liveability Index 2021

• Covid-19 pandemic has caused the liveability to decline in 2019 as many cities were in lockdown and severe crisis. The Healthcare sector, educational sector, and many social sectors were affected and many cities with the progressive standard of living stumbled down.
• Auckland topped the list with a score of 96 after its consistent effort to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and praiseworthy scores on various metrics like education, healthcare, and environment. Vienna, which topped in 2018 and 2019, dropped 11 places and scored 12th rank.
• EIU has added new indicators such as stress on healthcare resources, and restrictions on sporting events, the shutdown of theaters, schools, restaurants, and concerts.
• Damascus retained its position as the worst city following the negative impacts of the Civil War in Syria.

Top 3 and bottom 3 cities of the Global Liveability Report 2021

Top 3 Liveable Cities: Auckland (New Zealand), Osaka (Japan), Adelaide (Australia).

Bottom 3 Liveable Cities:-Damascus (Syria), Lagos (Nigeria), and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).

Impending risks for liveability 

Covid restrictions and the Ukrainian crisis will affect the liveability of countries next year. There are chances for a new Covid variant that can cause global waves and trigger fresh cases next year. High and middle-income countries will employ social restrictions and vaccination drives, impacting liveability. The Ukrainian crisis will also create a serious impact on social security, cause global inflation, and dampen economic growth. There will be higher commodity prices, a cost-of-living crisis weakening investment in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, as well as the consumer spending that supports cultural life.

Ease of Living Index and Municipal Performance Index 

• The Ease of Living Index is an assessment of evaluating the quality of life and impact of various initiatives for Urban development.
• It provides a general overview of cities of India on the basis of:
  • Quality of Life
  • Economic ability of City
  • Sustainability and Resilience
• It encompasses the outcome indicators.

Read more about The Ease of Living Index from the linked article. 

• The Municipal Performance Index was also launched along with the Ease of Living Index. It evaluates the performance of local government in municipalities in areas of:
  • Services
  • Finance
  • Policy
  • Technology
  • Governance
• It is meant to promote transparency and accountability in practices of local governance. It encompasses the enabling input parameters.

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