Revealed: the world’s most liveable cities in 2026

The newest edition of the Global Liveability Index has been released, highlighting notable shifts in urban quality of life rankings worldwide. Among the cities featured, several in Asia have experienced significant improvements. The index, published annually by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), evaluates 173 cities based on five key categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

Once a Viking fishing settlement, Copenhagen continues to claim the top spot as the world’s most liveable city. The Danish capital outperforms others such as Vienna, which ranks second, and Melbourne, which holds third place. Copenhagen scored flawlessly in education, infrastructure, and stability. Renowned for its commitment to sustainable urban living, the city has inspired global adoption of cycling-friendly policies, a trend that has even led to the coining of the term ‘Copenhagenisation’.

European cities maintain a strong presence among the leading locations, with Switzerland’s Zurich and Geneva ranking fifth and sixth, respectively. Japan contributes two cities to the top ten: Osaka in seventh place and Tokyo in tenth. Meanwhile, Australia is represented by three cities: Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide, ranked third, fourth, and eighth, respectively. The UK’s highest placement belongs to Manchester, coming in at 52nd. The report points out that while European cities’ liveability scores have largely plateaued, Asian cities are making noticeable gains.

The index also sheds light on some of the most challenging urban environments. Damascus in Syria remains the city with the lowest liveability ranking, although healthcare conditions there have improved significantly since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Tripoli, Libya, also shows modest advancements in healthcare but retains the second-lowest rank overall. Regional conflict, especially the ongoing fallout from the US-Israel conflict with Iran, has negatively impacted many Middle Eastern cities’ standings. Still, progress in healthcare has been a common theme in the region. Chinese cities lead the list of biggest upward movers, credited largely to public investment in health infrastructure, even as cultural and political restrictions limit their overall rankings. New York City also saw notable improvement following reductions in crime and terrorism risks, though it remains one of the lower-ranked cities in the United States

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