Vienna has once again been crowned the world's most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in its latest Global Liveability Index (2024). This marks the third year in a row that Vienna has topped the charts, cementing its reputation as an exceptional place to live.
The EIU, a research and analysis division of The Economist, evaluated 173 cities worldwide based on 30 indicators across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure, then ranks them on a 100-point scale. The goal is to assess how comfortable and convenient it is to live in these cities.
The top 3 places were all clinched by European cities, as seen in Table 1. Copenhagen has retained 2nd place for the 3rd year in a row, and Zurich has regained 3rd place - which it held in 2022, but fell to 6th place in 2023.
Table 1: Top 10 most liveable cities in the world (2024)
Source: EIU
Top marks
With an overall index score of 98.4, Vienna has consistently excelled, earning perfect scores of 100 in four out of the 5 categories: stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. While Vienna's culture and environment score was a slightly lower 93.5, the city is still celebrated for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant entertainment scene. This slight dip is primarily due to a relative lack of major sporting events, a factor noted in previous years as well.
Proven track record
Vienna's track record of excellence as the world’s most liveable city is illustrated in Chart 1. The Austrian capital held the top position from 2018 and 2019 (2020 data is missing due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing the collection of data for many of the cities included in the 2020 index), briefly dropping to 12th place in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on liveability factors, when its plethora of museums and restaurants faced restrictions to contain the pandemic, then swiftly regained the top spot in 2022, retaining its crown for both 2023 and 2024.
Chart 1: Vienna's ranking in EIU's Global Liveability Index (2015-2024)
Data source: EIU
Western Europe continues to lead in liveability (Copenhagen, Zurich and Geneva also ranked in the top ten), though the region's overall stability score has decreased due to rising instances of disruptive protests and crime. Despite this, Vienna stands out with perfect scores in safety and stability, underpinned by its low crime rates.
Vienna offers unparalleled quality of life, with its excellent healthcare system, world-class education, and efficient infrastructure making everyday living convenient and comfortable for its residents. The city's commitment to stability and safety ensures a peaceful environment, while its cultural offerings provide endless opportunities for enrichment and entertainment. Vienna's consistent top ranking in the Global Liveability Index speaks volumes about what this remarkable city has to offer.