Ranked: The World’s Most and Least Livable Cities in 2026

The World’s Most and Least Livable Cities in 2026

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The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index measures quality of life across five categories: stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and culture.

This visualization compares the highest- and lowest-ranked cities in the 2026 edition of the index, revealing which urban centers provide the strongest living conditions—and which continue to be held back by conflict, political instability, or underdeveloped public services.

Copenhagen Takes the Top Spot

Copenhagen claimed the top spot with an overall score of 98 out of 100, becoming the first city outside Vienna to lead the EIU’s rankings in several years.

Rank	Most Livable Cities	Country	Overall Score (0-100)
1	Copenhagen	Denmark	98
2	Vienna	Austria	97
3	Melbourne	Australia	97
4	Sydney	Australia	97
5	Zurich	Switzerland	96
6	Geneva	Switzerland	96
7	Osaka	Japan	96
8	Adelaide	Australia	96
9	Vancouver	Canada	96
10	Tokyo	Japan	96

The Danish capital scored highly for its public services, safe neighborhoods, efficient transportation, healthcare, and environmental standards.

Vienna placed second, followed by Australia’s two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney.

Europe and Australia Lead the Rankings

Cities in Europe and Australia continue to set the global benchmark for urban quality of life, supported by extensive public services, transportation networks, healthcare systems, and urban infrastructure.

Switzerland placed Zurich and Geneva in the top six, while Australia was represented by Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide.

Japan also performed strongly, with Osaka and Tokyo both earning scores of 96.

Vancouver was the only North American city to make the top 10, reflecting Canada’s continued reputation for urban livability.

Conflict and Instability Weigh on the Lowest-Ranked Cities

At the bottom of the index, conflict, political instability, economic pressures, and weak infrastructure can make it difficult to provide reliable public services.

Damascus received the lowest score at 32, followed by Tripoli and Dhaka.

Rank	Least Liveable Cities	Country	Overall Score
164	Tehran	Iran	45
165	Harare	Zimbabwe	45
166	Kyiv	Ukraine	45
167	Port Moresby	Papua New Guinea	44
168	Lagos	Nigeria	44
169	Algiers	Algeria	43
170	Karachi	Pakistan	43
171	Dhaka	Bangladesh	42
172	Tripoli	Libya	41
173	Damascus	Syria	32

Cities including Kyiv, Tehran, Karachi, and Lagos also appeared near the bottom of the index. Many face security concerns or strained public services that reduce day-to-day quality of life.

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• Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-worlds-most-and-least-livable-cities-in-2026/