EIU Global Liveability Index 2026: World's Most Liveable Cities Ranked, Why Copenhagen Tops the List, and What the Rankings Mean

From Copenhagen to Tokyo: EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 Reveals the World's Best Cities to Live In as Asia Gains and the Middle East Faces Declining Stability

The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026 evaluates 173 cities across five major pillars—stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education, and infrastructure. While Copenhagen retained the world's top position for the second consecutive year, Asia emerged as the fastest-improving region, healthcare scores improved globally, and geopolitical conflicts significantly affected cities across the Middle East.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the rankings, methodology, regional trends, and what the latest report reveals about the future of urban living. 

EIU Global Liveability Index 2026

Every year, governments, multinational corporations, investors, researchers, urban planners, and expatriates eagerly await the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index, one of the world's most respected assessments of urban quality of life.

Unlike rankings based solely on economic performance or tourism appeal, the EIU Liveability Index measures how comfortable, safe, healthy, and convenient it is for people to live in a city on a daily basis.

The 2026 edition assessed 173 cities worldwide, comparing them across 30 qualitative and quantitative indicators grouped into five major categories:

• Stability

• Healthcare

• Culture & Environment

• Education

• Infrastructure

The report finds that although the global average liveability score remained unchanged at 76.1 out of 100, significant regional shifts occurred beneath the surface. Healthcare improved across many cities, especially in Asia, while armed conflicts and geopolitical instability reduced scores in parts of the Middle East.

What Is the EIU Global Liveability Index?

The EIU Global Liveability Index is an annual ranking prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and analysis division of The Economist Group.

Its purpose is to evaluate how suitable cities are for living by measuring everyday living conditions rather than economic size or tourist popularity.

The rankings help:

• Governments benchmark urban development.

• Businesses determine hardship allowances for expatriate employees.

• Companies make investment and relocation decisions.

• Urban planners identify areas requiring improvement.

• Researchers compare cities using globally standardised indicators.

Unlike many urban rankings that rely on perception surveys, the EIU combines expert assessments with measurable data to create a comprehensive liveability score for each city.

How Does the EIU Measure Liveability?

The 2026 rankings are based on 30 indicators organised under five weighted categories, each reflecting an essential aspect of urban life.

1. Stability (25%)

The stability category evaluates how safe residents feel in a city.

Indicators include:

• Prevalence of petty crime

• Violent crime

• Threat of terrorism

• Military conflict

• Civil unrest and political instability

A stable city offers predictable governance, low crime, and minimal security threats.

2. Healthcare (20%)

Healthcare scores examine both accessibility and quality.

Indicators include:

• Availability of private healthcare

• Quality of private hospitals

• Public healthcare access

• Quality of public healthcare

• Availability of medicines

• General healthcare performance

Healthcare recorded the largest global improvement among all five categories in the 2026 report.

3. Culture and Environment (25%)

This category extends beyond museums and parks.

It considers:

• Climate comfort

• Cultural opportunities

• Sports facilities

• Food and entertainment

• Consumer services

• Political freedoms

• Religious restrictions

• Corruption levels

This broad approach reflects the overall quality of daily life.

4. Education (10%)

Education scores include:

• Availability of quality private schools

• Standard of private education

• Public education indicators

Many of the world's highest-ranked cities achieved perfect education scores.

5. Infrastructure (20%)

Infrastructure assesses how efficiently cities function.

Indicators include:

• Road quality

• Public transportation

• International connectivity

• Housing availability

• Electricity supply

• Water supply

• Telecommunications

Reliable infrastructure remains one of the strongest predictors of overall liveability.

Global Liveability Remains Stable in 2026

The report found that the average liveability score remained at 76.1, unchanged from the previous year.

However, maintaining the same overall score masks several important shifts.

The most significant trends include:

• Healthcare improved globally.

• Education and infrastructure recorded modest gains.

• Stability declined due to geopolitical conflicts.

• Culture and environment scores fell slightly, particularly across Europe.

According to the EIU, improvements in healthcare almost entirely offset worsening security conditions, resulting in little overall change.

Healthcare Emerged as the Biggest Global Improvement

Among the five categories, healthcare registered the strongest year-on-year improvement, increasing by an average of 0.74 points.

Several factors contributed:

• Increased public investment.

• Expansion of hospital capacity.

• Improved healthcare access.

• Better medical infrastructure in Asian cities.

Healthcare improvements were particularly noticeable in Chinese cities, many of which now score above 80 out of 100 in this category after years of sustained investment.

Stability Continues to Decline Worldwide

Although healthcare improved, the stability category declined by an average of 0.52 points, continuing a trend observed in recent editions.

Unlike previous years, when Europe's security concerns were largely driven by the Russia–Ukraine war and terrorist incidents, the 2026 report highlights a shift toward the Middle East.

The report attributes much of the regional decline to the conflict involving Iran, which affected several neighbouring countries and disrupted regional stability.

Asia Emerges as the Fastest-Improving Region

One of the report's most important findings is Asia's continued rise.

The region recorded the largest improvement in average liveability scores, increasing by 0.3 points.

Several factors contributed:

• Better healthcare systems.

• Continued investment in public services.

• Improvements in major Chinese cities.

• Higher culture and environment scores in Japan.

As a result:

• Nine Asian cities now feature among the world's top 20, surpassing Europe's seven cities in the same group.

However, the report notes that Asia's overall average remains constrained by lower scores from developing cities such as Dhaka, reflecting persistent disparities within the region.

Western Europe Remains the World's Most Liveable Region

Despite stagnating scores, Western Europe continues to lead globally.

The region achieved an average liveability score of 91.7, narrowly ahead of North America (90.4).

Regional averages include:

Region	Average Liveability Score
Western Europe	91.7
North America	90.4
Asia	73.9
Eastern Europe	71
Latin America	67
Middle East & North Africa	61
Sub-Saharan Africa	55

Western Europe's consistently high performance reflects strong public healthcare, excellent education systems, reliable infrastructure, and political stability across many of its cities.

Top 10 Most Liveable Cities in the World (2026)

The EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 places Copenhagen, Denmark, at the top of the global rankings for the second consecutive year.

The Danish capital achieved:

• Perfect scores for Stability

• Education

• Infrastructure

and scored above 95 in Healthcare and Culture & Environment.

Top 10 Most Liveable Cities in 2026

Rank	City	Country
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

The top ten continues to be dominated by cities in wealthy, developed economies with robust public services, excellent healthcare systems, high-quality education, reliable infrastructure, and low crime rates. Almost all achieved perfect scores in education, while most also received full marks for healthcare.

Why Copenhagen Remains the World's Most Liveable City

Copenhagen retained first place because of its consistently outstanding performance across all five assessment categories.

Its strengths include:

• Exceptional public safety.

• Universal access to high-quality healthcare.

• World-class education.

• Reliable infrastructure.

• Sustainable urban planning.

• Extensive cycling infrastructure.

• Efficient public transport.

• High environmental quality.

Unlike many cities that improved in specific areas, Copenhagen maintained excellence across the board, allowing it to remain ahead of Vienna and Melbourne for a second consecutive year.

Biggest Movers in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026: Why Some Cities Climbed While Others Declined

While the top-ranked cities remained largely unchanged, the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 witnessed significant movement further down the rankings. Improvements in healthcare, infrastructure, and public services propelled several Asian cities upward, whereas armed conflicts, political instability, and security concerns caused sharp declines across parts of the Middle East.

The report demonstrates that urban liveability is dynamic. Even cities with strong healthcare and infrastructure can lose ground quickly if security deteriorates, while sustained investment in public services can steadily improve living conditions over time.

Chinese Cities Record the Biggest Improvements in 2026

One of the most notable findings of this year's report is the remarkable progress made by several Chinese cities.

The EIU attributes these improvements primarily to sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, expanded access to medical services, and better public health outcomes.

Among the biggest gainers were:

• Shanghai

• Beijing

• Suzhou

• Shenzhen

These cities recorded significant improvements in healthcare scores, helping raise their overall liveability rankings. According to the report, many Chinese cities now score above 80 out of 100 in healthcare, reflecting years of investment in hospitals, medical technology, and healthcare access.

Healthcare was the strongest-performing category globally, increasing by an average of 0.74 points, and Chinese cities were among its biggest beneficiaries.

Asia Strengthens Its Position Among the World's Most Liveable Cities

The 2026 rankings reinforce Asia's growing importance in global urban development.

The region recorded the highest average improvement, with overall liveability increasing by 0.3 points compared with the previous year.

Several trends contributed to this progress:

• Improved healthcare systems.

• Better public infrastructure.

• Continued urban investment.

• Higher scores in culture and environment, particularly in Japan.

As a result:

• Nine Asian cities now rank among the world's top 20 most liveable cities, surpassing Western Europe's seven cities in the same group.

The report suggests that long-term investment in healthcare and public infrastructure is beginning to translate into measurable improvements in urban quality of life across many Asian economies.

Japan Continues to Set High Standards for Urban Liveability

Japan remains one of the world's strongest performers in urban liveability.

Two Japanese cities featured in the global top ten:

• Osaka (7th)

• Tokyo (10th)

The report also notes improvements in Japan's Culture & Environment category, supported by:

• High public safety.

• Excellent urban cleanliness.

• Efficient public transport.

• Strong cultural amenities.

• High-quality public services.

Japan's cities continue to benefit from balanced performance across all five liveability categories rather than relying on strengths in only one area.

Middle East Sees the Sharpest Decline in Stability

While Asia recorded gains, the Middle East experienced one of the steepest declines.

The report attributes this deterioration primarily to the conflict involving Iran, which negatively affected neighbouring countries and reduced regional stability scores.

Cities experiencing notable declines include:

• Tel Aviv

• Dubai

• Abu Dhabi

Although these cities continue to perform strongly in infrastructure and healthcare, worsening security conditions reduced their overall rankings.

The EIU highlights that stability remains the single most influential factor affecting changes in overall liveability, particularly when geopolitical conflicts emerge.

Why Stability Is So Important in the Liveability Rankings

Among the five assessment categories, stability accounts for 25% of the overall score, making it one of the most heavily weighted indicators.

The stability category evaluates:

• Violent crime.

• Petty crime.

• Terrorism threats.

• Military conflict.

• Civil unrest.

• Political stability.

Even cities with excellent hospitals, schools, and transport systems can lose ranking positions if public safety deteriorates.

The 2026 report illustrates this clearly, showing that improvements in healthcare were largely offset by declines in stability across several regions.

Healthcare Continues to Drive Global Improvements

Healthcare emerged as the best-performing category worldwide.

Average healthcare scores increased because many governments continued investing in:

• Hospital infrastructure.

• Medical workforce.

• Emergency services.

• Access to healthcare.

• Healthcare quality.

The EIU notes that improvements were particularly evident across Asia, where public investment has strengthened healthcare systems over recent years.

Reliable healthcare remains one of the defining characteristics of the world's most liveable cities.

Infrastructure Remains a Hallmark of Top-Ranked Cities

Infrastructure continues to distinguish leading cities from the rest.

The highest-ranked cities consistently provide:

• Reliable electricity.

• Safe drinking water.

• Modern public transport.

• High-quality roads.

• Strong telecommunications.

• Efficient housing systems.

• International connectivity.

Cities such as Copenhagen, Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney, Zurich, and Tokyo benefit from decades of sustained investment in urban infrastructure.

The report underscores that infrastructure improvements require long-term planning and stable public investment rather than short-term policy changes.

Education Remains One of the Strongest Performing Categories

Education continues to be one of the most stable components of the index.

Many of the world's highest-ranked cities achieved perfect education scores, reflecting:

• High-quality public education.

• Strong private schools.

• Accessible educational institutions.

• Consistently high academic standards.

Although education scores changed little compared with previous years, they remain an essential contributor to long-term urban liveability.

Culture and Environment: More Than Tourism

The Culture & Environment category evaluates much more than museums and tourist attractions.

It considers how enjoyable daily life is through indicators such as:

• Climate.

• Cultural availability.

• Sporting opportunities.

• Restaurants and entertainment.

• Consumer goods and services.

• Religious freedom.

• Political freedoms.

• Corruption levels.

Cities scoring highly in this category offer residents a balanced lifestyle supported by vibrant cultural activities and favourable living conditions.

Japan's cities recorded notable gains in this category during 2026.

The World's Least Liveable Cities in 2026

At the opposite end of the rankings are cities affected by prolonged conflict, political instability, weak public services, or economic hardship.

According to the EIU, the 10 least liveable cities are:

Rank (from bottom)	City	Country
173	Damascus	Syria
172	Tripoli	Libya
171	Dhaka	Bangladesh
170	Karachi	Pakistan
169	Algiers	Algeria
168	Lagos	Nigeria
167	Harare	Zimbabwe
166	Port Moresby	Papua New Guinea
165	Kyiv	Ukraine
164	Caracas	Venezuela

These cities generally score poorly because of combinations of:

• Armed conflict.

• Political instability.

• Weak healthcare systems.

• Poor infrastructure.

• Limited educational opportunities.

• Economic challenges.

The report notes that conflict remains one of the most significant drivers of declining liveability, as illustrated by the continued low rankings of cities affected by war and prolonged instability.

Regional Performance Highlights

The report identifies clear regional differences in urban liveability.

Region	Key Finding
Western Europe	Highest average score globally (91.7) due to excellent healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
North America	Strong second-place performance with well-developed public services.
Asia	Fastest-improving region driven by healthcare investment and urban development.
Eastern Europe	Moderate performance with variation between cities.
Latin America	Continued challenges related to stability and infrastructure.
Middle East & North Africa	Decline in stability because of regional conflict.
Sub-Saharan Africa	Lowest regional average due to infrastructure, healthcare, and governance challenges.

These regional trends demonstrate that urban liveability depends on sustained investment across multiple sectors rather than economic prosperity alone.

What the 2026 Rankings Reveal About Future Cities

The EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 highlights several broader trends shaping cities worldwide.

The report suggests that future urban competitiveness will increasingly depend on:

• Strong public healthcare systems.

• Political and social stability.

• Reliable infrastructure.

• High-quality education.

• Sustainable urban planning.

• Safe public spaces.

• Long-term investment in public services.

Cities that maintain balanced performance across all five categories are more likely to remain resilient in the face of geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges.

Why No Indian City Features Among the World's Most Liveable: India's Urban Challenges, Progress, and the Road Ahead

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026 evaluates cities across five pillars—stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education, and infrastructure. While cities such as Copenhagen, Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney, Zurich, Osaka, and Tokyo dominate the rankings, no Indian city appears among the world's top liveable cities.

Although the report does not publish scores for every city worldwide or provide a dedicated assessment of Indian cities, its evaluation framework offers valuable insight into why India's major metropolitan areas continue to face challenges in global liveability rankings.

India has emerged as the world's fastest-growing major economy and one of the largest urban markets, yet rapid urbanisation has placed enormous pressure on transport systems, healthcare, housing, public services, and environmental sustainability. As India's cities continue to expand, improving quality of life has become just as important as driving economic growth.

Why Aren't Indian Cities Among the World's Most Liveable?

India's urban centres are economic powerhouses that attract millions of migrants every year. However, the pace of urban population growth has often outstripped the expansion of essential public infrastructure.

The five categories used by the EIU highlight the areas where Indian cities continue to face significant structural challenges.

1. Stability: Safer Than Before, But Urban Risks Persist

The EIU assigns 25% weight to stability because safety is fundamental to liveability.

Indian cities generally function under stable democratic governance, but urban life is affected by issues such as:

• Traffic-related fatalities.

• Localised law-and-order challenges.

• Disaster preparedness gaps.

• Overcrowding in dense urban settlements.

• Vulnerability to floods, heatwaves, and air pollution episodes.

Unlike cities affected by armed conflict, India's challenges are primarily linked to rapid urban expansion and disaster resilience rather than geopolitical instability.

2. Healthcare: Significant Progress, Yet Uneven Access

Healthcare has improved substantially across India during the past decade.

Major developments include:

• Expansion of medical colleges.

• Growth of private healthcare.

• Ayushman Bharat health insurance.

• Strengthening of primary healthcare centres.

• Increasing digital health services under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

However, large differences remain between cities regarding:

• Doctor-to-population ratios.

• Hospital bed availability.

• Emergency medical services.

• Public healthcare infrastructure.

• Affordability of quality treatment.

The EIU report identifies healthcare as the fastest-improving category globally, suggesting that sustained investment in health systems can significantly improve liveability over time.

3. Infrastructure: India's Biggest Urban Challenge

Infrastructure remains one of the most significant obstacles to higher liveability rankings.

Although India has made remarkable progress in recent years, rapidly growing urban populations continue to strain existing infrastructure.

Common urban challenges include:

• Traffic congestion.

• Ageing road networks in older cities.

• Limited pedestrian infrastructure.

• Parking shortages.

• Water supply interruptions.

• Waste management.

• Urban flooding.

• Informal settlements.

At the same time, India has undertaken one of the world's largest infrastructure expansion programmes.

Recent improvements include:

• Metro rail expansion in multiple cities.

• Expressway development.

• Modern airports.

• Digital connectivity.

• Smart traffic management.

• Renewable energy integration.

• Urban transit improvements.

These investments are expected to strengthen future urban competitiveness.

4. Education: A Strong Foundation With Scope for Improvement

India possesses one of the world's largest education systems.

Its metropolitan cities host:

• Leading universities.

• IITs.

• IIMs.

• AIIMS institutions.

• International schools.

• Research centres.

Literacy rates have steadily improved, and digital education has expanded rapidly.

However, disparities remain in:

• School quality.

• Student-teacher ratios.

• Urban-rural education outcomes.

• Public school infrastructure.

Cities that dominate the EIU rankings consistently combine universal access with high-quality education systems.

5. Culture and Environment: India's Greatest Strength—and Greatest Challenge

Indian cities offer extraordinary cultural diversity rarely matched anywhere in the world.

Residents enjoy access to:

• Historic monuments.

• Museums.

• Religious heritage.

• Diverse cuisines.

• Festivals.

• Performing arts.

• Sports.

• Entertainment industries.

However, environmental indicators continue to limit overall liveability.

Major concerns include:

• Air pollution.

• Noise pollution.

• Waste disposal.

• Loss of green spaces.

• Urban heat islands.

• Water pollution.

Balancing rapid development with environmental sustainability remains one of India's most important urban policy challenges.

How India's Urbanisation Is Reshaping Cities

India is urbanising at an unprecedented pace.

Millions of people migrate to cities every year seeking:

• Employment.

• Better education.

• Healthcare.

• Improved living standards.

According to government projections and demographic studies, India's urban population will continue expanding significantly over the coming decades.

Rapid urbanisation creates enormous opportunities but also increases pressure on:

• Housing.

• Public transport.

• Drinking water.

• Sewerage systems.

• Waste management.

• Electricity supply.

• Healthcare services.

Managing this growth sustainably will largely determine the future liveability of Indian cities.

Government Initiatives Transforming Indian Cities

Recognising these challenges, India has launched several nationwide urban development programmes.

Smart Cities Mission

Launched in 2015, the Smart Cities Mission seeks to improve urban living through:

• Intelligent traffic systems.

• Integrated command centres.

• Smart governance.

• Digital public services.

• Sustainable infrastructure.

• Energy-efficient development.

• Citizen-centric planning.

Many participating cities have introduced surveillance systems, smart mobility projects, public Wi-Fi, and digital governance platforms.

AMRUT Mission

The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) focuses on:

• Water supply.

• Sewerage systems.

• Stormwater drainage.

• Green spaces.

• Urban transport.

Its objective is to improve the quality of life in medium and large cities through better basic services.

Metro Rail Expansion

India has witnessed one of the fastest metro expansions globally.

Cities including:

• Delhi

• Mumbai

• Bengaluru

• Hyderabad

• Chennai

• Kochi

• Pune

• Nagpur

• Ahmedabad

• Kanpur

have significantly expanded rapid transit networks, reducing travel time and improving urban mobility.

Digital Urban Governance

Indian cities are increasingly adopting digital technologies for:

• Online civic services.

• Property tax collection.

• Utility payments.

• Public grievance systems.

• Traffic management.

• Disaster response.

• GIS-based urban planning.

These initiatives improve administrative efficiency while enhancing citizen convenience.

Which Indian Cities Could Improve Their Liveability?

Although the EIU report does not rank most Indian cities individually, several metropolitan areas have characteristics that position them for future improvement.

Among them:

Bengaluru

Strengths:

• Technology ecosystem.

• Pleasant climate.

• Strong education sector.

Challenges:

• Traffic congestion.

• Water scarcity.

• Infrastructure gaps.

Hyderabad

Strengths:

• Expanding metro.

• IT investment.

• Healthcare facilities.

• Planned urban development.

Challenges:

• Peripheral infrastructure.

• Rapid population growth.

Pune

Strengths:

• Educational institutions.

• Manufacturing.

• Quality healthcare.

• Green neighbourhoods.

Challenges:

• Congestion.

• Housing affordability.

Ahmedabad

Strengths:

• Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).

• Riverfront development.

• Industrial growth.

Challenges:

• Air quality.

• Urban expansion.

Chandigarh

Strengths:

• Planned city layout.

• Green spaces.

• High civic standards.

Challenges:

• Increasing vehicle ownership.

• Population pressure.

These cities demonstrate that sustained investment can gradually improve liveability, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, and public services.

What Can India Learn From Copenhagen and Other Top-Ranked Cities?

The world's most liveable cities share several common characteristics.

They invest consistently in:

• Public healthcare.

• High-quality education.

• Reliable infrastructure.

• Safe public spaces.

• Efficient public transport.

• Environmental sustainability.

• Long-term urban planning.

• Citizen-focused governance.

Rather than relying on isolated projects, they pursue integrated urban development over decades.

India's experience suggests that continued investment in these areas—combined with effective implementation and maintenance—will be essential for improving future liveability.

The Future of Urban Liveability in India

India stands at a pivotal moment in its urban development journey.

Rapid economic growth, expanding infrastructure, digital transformation, and public investment are creating new opportunities to improve urban quality of life. At the same time, challenges such as congestion, pollution, affordable housing, climate resilience, and equitable access to public services require sustained attention.

The EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 shows that the world's highest-ranked cities succeed not because of economic prosperity alone, but because they combine stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and a high-quality living environment into a balanced urban ecosystem.

For India, the path to greater liveability lies in building cities that are not only engines of economic growth but also healthier, safer, more resilient, and more inclusive places to live.

Key Takeaways

• Copenhagen retained its position as the world's most liveable city in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026, while Western Europe remained the highest-scoring region overall.

• Healthcare recorded the strongest global improvement, whereas stability declined due to geopolitical tensions, particularly in parts of the Middle East.

• Asia emerged as the fastest-improving region, with nine cities featuring among the global top 20.

• No Indian city features among the world's most liveable cities, reflecting ongoing challenges in infrastructure, environmental quality, healthcare access, and urban management rather than a lack of economic dynamism.

• Continued investments through initiatives such as the Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, metro rail expansion, and digital governance have the potential to improve India's urban liveability over the long term.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the EIU Global Liveability Index?

The EIU Global Liveability Index is an annual ranking published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that evaluates the quality of life in 173 cities worldwide. It measures liveability using 30 indicators grouped into five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The rankings are widely used by governments, businesses, urban planners, and expatriates to compare living conditions across cities.

2. Which city is ranked as the world's most liveable city in 2026?

According to the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026, Copenhagen, Denmark, is the world's most liveable city. It retained the top position due to its outstanding performance in stability, education, infrastructure, healthcare, and culture and environment.

3. How does the EIU determine the world's most liveable cities?

The EIU evaluates cities using 30 qualitative and quantitative indicators across five weighted categories:

• Stability (25%)

• Healthcare (20%)

• Culture & Environment (25%)

• Education (10%)

• Infrastructure (20%)

Each city receives an overall score out of 100 based on these indicators.

4. Why did Copenhagen rank higher than Vienna and Melbourne?

Copenhagen secured the top position because it maintained consistently high scores across all five categories, including perfect scores in stability, education, and infrastructure. Strong public healthcare, sustainable urban planning, efficient public transport, and a high level of public safety also contributed to its ranking.

5. Which countries have the most cities in the Global Liveability Index Top 10?

Australia had the strongest representation in the 2026 rankings with three cities—Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. Switzerland had two cities (Zurich and Geneva), while Japan also had two cities (Osaka and Tokyo). Denmark, Austria, and Canada each had one city in the top ten.

6. Why are no Indian cities among the world's most liveable cities?

The EIU report does not rank every Indian city individually, but its assessment framework suggests that challenges such as traffic congestion, infrastructure gaps, air pollution, housing shortages, environmental quality, and uneven healthcare access continue to affect the liveability of many Indian cities. Ongoing investments in public transport, healthcare, and smart urban development are expected to improve conditions over time.

7. Which region performed best in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026?

Western Europe remained the highest-performing region with an average liveability score of 91.7, followed by North America. Asia recorded the fastest improvement, driven by stronger healthcare systems and continued investment in public infrastructure.

8. Which factors reduce a city's liveability score?

Several factors can lower a city's liveability score, including political instability, armed conflict, terrorism, high crime rates, poor healthcare services, inadequate infrastructure, traffic congestion, pollution, weak public transport, and limited access to quality education.

9. Why did some Middle Eastern cities fall in the 2026 rankings?

Several Middle Eastern cities experienced lower rankings because regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions reduced their stability scores. Since stability accounts for 25% of the total liveability score, deteriorating security conditions significantly affected their overall rankings.

10. Why did Asian cities improve in the 2026 liveability rankings?

Asian cities recorded the largest improvement mainly due to stronger healthcare systems, increased investment in public services, improved infrastructure, and better culture and environment scores. Chinese cities, in particular, made notable gains after sustained healthcare investments.

11. How can cities improve their liveability rankings?

Cities can improve liveability by investing in high-quality healthcare, reliable public transport, modern infrastructure, affordable housing, quality education, environmental sustainability, public safety, digital governance, and long-term urban planning. Balanced development across all these areas leads to higher liveability scores.

12. Why is the EIU Global Liveability Index important?

The EIU Global Liveability Index provides a globally recognised benchmark for measuring urban quality of life. Governments use it to evaluate public services, businesses rely on it for expatriate planning and investment decisions, and urban planners use it to identify strengths and areas requiring improvement. It also helps residents understand how cities compare on safety, healthcare, infrastructure, education, and overall living standards.

13. Which cities improved the most in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026?

Several Asian cities, particularly in China, recorded notable improvements due to stronger healthcare systems and sustained public investment. The report also highlights overall gains across Asia, making it the fastest-improving region in this year's rankings.

14. Why did healthcare scores improve in the Global Liveability Index 2026?

Healthcare recorded the largest year-on-year improvement because many cities invested in hospitals, medical infrastructure, healthcare access, and public health services. Chinese cities were among the biggest beneficiaries of these improvements.

15. Which is the least liveable city in the world according to the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026?

According to the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026, Damascus, Syria, ranked as the world's least liveable city due to prolonged conflict, political instability, and challenges in healthcare, infrastructure, and public services.

16. How is the EIU Global Liveability Index different from other city rankings?

Unlike rankings that focus on economic performance or tourism, the EIU Global Liveability Index evaluates everyday living conditions. It measures factors such as safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and culture to assess how comfortable a city is for residents.

17. Can Indian cities enter the world's most liveable cities rankings in the future?

Yes. Continued investment in healthcare, public transport, sustainable infrastructure, affordable housing, environmental quality, and urban governance through initiatives such as the Smart Cities Mission and metro expansion could improve the liveability of Indian cities over time.

18. Why is the EIU Global Liveability Index important for governments and businesses?

Governments use the index to benchmark urban development and identify areas needing improvement, while businesses rely on it for expatriate assignments, investment decisions, and evaluating the quality of life offered by different cities.

Source : EIU