--- title: "Most Liveable Cities 2025: Vienna Slips Behind Copenhagen" description: After three years at number one, Vienna is overtaken by Copenhagen in the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2025 Global Liveability Index. What tipped the balance? image: https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hubfs/EIU%20top%2010%20best%20cities%20to%20live%20in%20the%20world%202025%20feature%20image-1.png --- [![Recom Relocation Blog](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hs-fs/hubfs/CI/logo_website.png?width=190&height=77&name=logo_website.png "Recom Relocation Blog")](https://recom-relocation.at/) - [Immigration](https://www.recom-relocation.at/immigration.html) - [Relocation](https://www.recom-relocation.at/relocation.html) - [Intercultural Training](https://www.recom-relocation.at/training.html) - [Info Center](https://www.recom-relocation.at/info-center.html) - [club melange](https://www.recom-relocation.at/club.html) - [About Us](https://www.recom-relocation.at/about-us.html) - [Blog](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en) - [Podcast](https://www.recom-relocation.at/podcast) - [Immigration](https://www.recom-relocation.at/immigration.html) - [Relocation](https://www.recom-relocation.at/relocation.html) - [Intercultural Training](https://www.recom-relocation.at/training.html) - [Info Center](https://www.recom-relocation.at/info-center.html) - [club melange](https://www.recom-relocation.at/club.html) - [About Us](https://www.recom-relocation.at/about-us.html) - [Blog](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en) - [Podcast](https://www.recom-relocation.at/podcast) - [Contact Us](https://www.recom-relocation.at/contact-us.html) - [Contact Us](https://www.recom-relocation.at/contact-us.html) ![Most Liveable Cities Title](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hubfs/EIU%20top%2010%20best%20cities%20to%20live%20in%20the%20world%202025%20feature%20image-1.png) # *01-Jul-2025 | [culture](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en/topic/culture)* Most Liveable Cities 2025: Vienna Slips Behind Copenhagen After three years at number one, Vienna is overtaken by Copenhagen in the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2025 Global Liveability Index. What tipped the balance? > *After three years on top, Vienna has been nudged into second place in the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) 2025 Global Liveability Index, overtaken by Copenhagen. Rising geopolitical tensions threaten stability worldwide.*   ## **![EIU top 10 best cities to live in the world 2025 (3)-1](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hs-fs/hubfs/EIU%20top%2010%20best%20cities%20to%20live%20in%20the%20world%202025%20(3)-1.png?width=731&height=585&name=EIU%20top%2010%20best%20cities%20to%20live%20in%20the%20world%202025%20(3)-1.png)** ## **Vienna No Longer Number One Best City in the World to Live** After three consecutive years at the top (2022, 2023 and 2024), Vienna has conceded first place to Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen – and now shares second place with Zurich. Although both Copenhagen and Zurich maintained the same scores as in 2024, it was Vienna’s drop in its Stability score (from 100 to 95) that demoted it to second place. The decline followed two notable incidents: a bomb threat in the summer of 2024 ahead of a Taylor Swift concert – which was ultimately cancelled – and a foiled planned attack at Vienna’s main train station (Hauptbahnhof) in early 2025. Vienna’s scores for Culture and Environment, Healthcare, Education, and Infrastructure remained unchanged year-on-year, with perfect 100s in the last three categories. While Vienna placed second, the city’s leadership views this result as a continued affirmation of its strengths – while openly acknowledging the need to further improve in areas of security. Mayor Michael Ludwig wrote on Instagram ([see original post](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLCH8SBKgzN/)): | > *“Wien belegt im aktuellen Ranking des Economist den hervorragenden zweiten Platz unter den lebenswertesten Städten der Welt – ex aequo mit Zürich. Das ist eine eindrucksvolle Bestätigung für die Lebensqualität, die unsere Stadt bietet – von der sozialen Infrastruktur über den öffentlichen Verkehr bis zur hohen Umwelt- und Wohnqualität. Gleichzeitig nehmen wir Sicherheitsfragen sehr ernst und arbeiten gemeinsam mit der Polizei und den zuständigen Behörden daran, uns auch in diesem Bereich weiter zu verbessern. Unser Anspruch bleibt: Wien soll weltweit Maßstäbe in Sachen Lebensqualität setzen." * > > (Translation: *“Vienna ranks an outstanding second among the world's most livable cities — jointly tied with Zurich. This is impressive confirmation of the quality of life our city offers — from its social infrastructure and public transportation to its high environmental and residential quality. At the same time, we take security issues very seriously and are working with the police and the relevant authorities to further improve this area as well. Our goal remains: Vienna should set global standards in quality of life.”*) | | --- | Melbourne and Geneva hold firm in fourth and 5th place, as per 2024, while Sydney climbs one position from seventh to 6th. Both Osaka and Auckland rise two spots from joint ninth to joint 7th. Adelaide places 9th, re-entering the top 10 for the first time since 2021, and Vancouver drops three places, rounding out the list at tenth. | **City** | **Location** | **Rank** | **Index** | **Stability** | **Healthcare** | **Culture and** **environment** | **Education** | **Infrastructure** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Copenhagen | Denmark | 1 | 98.0 | 100.0 | 95.8 | 95.4 | 100.0 | 100.0 | | Vienna | Austria | 2 | 97.1 | 95.0 | 100.0 | 93.5 | 100.0 | 100.0 | | Zurich | Switzerland | 2 | 97.1 | 95.0 | 100.0 | 96.3 | 100.0 | 96.4 | | Melbourne | Australia | 4 | 97.0 | 95.0 | 100.0 | 95.8 | 100.0 | 96.4 | | Geneva | Switzerland | 5 | 96.8 | 95.0 | 100.0 | 94.9 | 100.0 | 96.4 | | Sydney | Australia | 6 | 96.6 | 95.0 | 100.0 | 94.4 | 100.0 | 96.4 | | Osaka | Japan | 7 | 96.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 86.8 | 100.0 | 96.4 | | Auckland | New Zealand | 7 | 96.0 | 95.0 | 95.8 | 97.9 | 100.0 | 92.9 | | Adelaide | Australia | 9 | 95.9 | 95.0 | 100.0 | 91.4 | 100.0 | 96.4 | | Vancouver | Canada | 10 | 95.8 | 95.0 | 95.8 | 97.2 | 100.0 | 92.9 |  Source: EIU data, 2025 ## Global Stability  Vienna is far from the only city affected by shifting Stability scores. While the average overall liveability score remains unchanged at 76.1 out of 100, this consistency is due to maintained or improved ratings in the other four categories: Healthcare, Culture and Environment, Education and Infrastructure. However, the Stability category — which measures the threat of military conflict, civil unrest and terrorism — has declined overall, offsetting the gains made in the other categories. As geopolitical tensions rise, this trend is expected to continue, putting pressure on quality of life globally. ## Western Europe Remains the Most Liveable Region ![EIU-regional-shifts-in-liveability-scores-2025-vs-2024](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hs-fs/hubfs/EIU-regional-shifts-in-liveability-scores-2025-vs-2024.png?width=1337&height=743&name=EIU-regional-shifts-in-liveability-scores-2025-vs-2024.png) Of the 30 Western European cities assessed, only one — Athens — falls short of the highest tier of liveability, defined by a score of 80 or more. Western Europe remains the most liveable region globally, with an average score of 91.8 (down slightly by 0.2 points from 2024). It’s followed by North America, averaging 90.4 (a drop of 0.1), and Asia-Pacific, which ranks third but shows the greatest spread between high and low scoring cities. While the top three regions saw marginal declines in average scores, all other regions experienced year-on-year improvements. ## Vienna Slips But the Story Is Bigger Than One City Vienna may have slipped from the top spot in this year’s Global Liveability Index, but its overall performance shows it remains one of the most consistently high-performing cities in the world. Stability, however, is where the biggest shifts have occurred — not just in Vienna but across many global cities. Geopolitical tensions, civil unrest and isolated threats have disrupted what were once steady scores in this category, and that volatility may persist in the years to come. ### Author: Martine Pey ## Related articles ### [![Image of Vienna the most liveable city in the world (2024)](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hubfs/Image%20of%20Vienna.png) *03-Jul-2024 | moving to austria* Vienna Most Liveable City in the World (2024)](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en/vienna-most-liveable-city-in-the-world-2024) ### [![Monocle](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hubfs/Blog%20post%20image%20Monocle-3.png) *19-Aug-2024 | culture* Top 20 Best Places to Live in the World (2024)](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en/top-20-best-places-to-live-in-the-world-2024) ### [![Beach installation on Karlsplatz in Vienna by Margot Pilz, ](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hubfs/Karlsplatz%20beach.heic) *06-May-2026 | culture* Time to Get Outside: What to Do in Vienna in May](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en/what-to-do-in-vienna-in-may) [Talk to a relocation expert](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/talk-to-a-relocation-expert) ## Recom Relocation GmbH Alser Straße 28/17a 1090 Wien – Austria Tel: +43 (0)1 409 24 62 office@recom-relocation.at [tel:](tel:)   - [Immigration](https://www.recom-relocation.at/immigration.html) - [Relocation](https://www.recom-relocation.at/relocation.html) - [Intercultural Training](https://www.recom-relocation.at/training.html) - [Info Center](https://www.recom-relocation.at/info-center.html) - [club melange](https://www.recom-relocation.at/club.html) - [About Us](https://www.recom-relocation.at/about-us.html) - [Blog](https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en) - [Podcast](https://www.recom-relocation.at/podcast) - [Contact Us](https://www.recom-relocation.at/contact-us.html) © 2022 Recom Relocation GmbH  |  [Imprint](https://www.recom-relocation.at/imprint.html)  |  [Privacy Policy](https://www.recom-relocation.at/privacy-policy.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Martine Pey", "url" : "https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en/author/martine-pey" }, "dateModified" : "2025-07-03T06:48:51.225Z", "datePublished" : "2025-07-01T16:05:25.000Z", "headline" : "Most Liveable Cities 2025: Vienna Slips Behind Copenhagen", "image" : [ "https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hubfs/EIU%20top%2010%20best%20cities%20to%20live%20in%20the%20world%202025%20feature%20image-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.recom-relocation.at/en/most-liveable-cities-2025-vienna-slips-behind-copenhagen", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.recom-relocation.at/hubfs/CI/logo_website.png" }, "name" : "recom relocation GmbH" } } ```