COPENHAGEN – If you had the chance to settle in a city offering top-notch healthcare, top-quality education, modern public transport, a clean environment, along with a peaceful lifestyle, where would you go? The answer, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, is Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen.
Danish capital has been named world’s most liveable city for 2nd consecutive year, emerging at top of comprehensive assessment of 173 cities worldwide. The rankings evaluated cities across five key areas: stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and culture and environment.
Copenhagen secured perfect scores in stability, education, and infrastructure, while also posting outstanding results in culture and environment, helping it retain the global crown. Vienna in Austria claimed second place, followed by Melbourne in Australia at third. Australia’s Sydney ranked fourth, while Zurich, Switzerland, completed the top five.
The remainder of the top 10 includes Geneva (Switzerland), Osaka (Japan), Adelaide (Australia), Vancouver (Canada), and Tokyo (Japan). The report goes beyond statistics, capturing the experiences of people who call these cities home. Copenhagen describe cycling as a way of life, with many commuting by bicycle, enjoying a swim in the sea after work, and reaching home within minutes.
| 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 |
In Vienna, residents point to an efficient public transport network, a relaxed pace of life, and the city’s rich historical heritage as its greatest strengths. Melbourne’s residents credit the city’s multicultural character, thriving café culture, vibrant arts scene, and music for making it one of the world’s most desirable places to live.
Sydney’s appeal lies in its spectacular coastline, beaches, natural beauty, and multicultural society, while Zurich’s residents praise its crystal-clear water, picturesque lakes and rivers, and exceptional standards of cleanliness. Australian, Canadian, and Japanese cities dominated the rankings, South Asia once again struggled to make an impact.
None of the cities from Pakistan, India, or Bangladesh featured among the world’s top 10 most liveable destinations. Pakistan’s Karachi remained at 170th place for the second consecutive year, underscoring the city’s persistent urban challenges.
Karachi remains one of the lowest-ranked cities globally, frequently appearing within the bottom 4–10 positions. The rankings assess more than 270 cities using three core criteria: Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity.
The port city continues to face major infrastructure challenges, including water and electricity supplies, inadequate sanitation, inefficient public transport, heavy traffic congestion, high pollution levels, flooding risks, and ongoing public safety concerns. Although the city has a vibrant local culture, it scores poorly in terms of international tourism, cultural recognition, and recreational attractions, reducing its overall global appeal.
Despite being Pakistan’s financial and commercial center, Karachi is affected by governance issues, income inequality, perceptions of corruption, and unplanned urban expansion, all of which hinder its long-term economic and social development.
With a population exceeding 20 million, Karachi’s rapid urban growth has placed immense pressure on public services and infrastructure. Like many fast-expanding megacities in developing countries, it has struggled to match its economic significance with improvements in quality of life and international competitiveness.
Karachi was followed by Dhaka in Bangladesh at 171st, Tripoli in Libya at 172nd, while Damascus, Syria, ranked 173rd, making it the least liveable city in this year’s index.
According to the EIU, the comparatively weak performance of South Asian cities is largely linked to ongoing challenges in political and economic stability, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental quality, and access to reliable urban services.
