Copenhagen Leads as World's Most Liveable City in 2026, Asia Sees Significant Gains
Copenhagen has once again secured its position as the world's most liveable city in 2026, marking its second consecutive year at the pinnacle of the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index. This prestigious index rigorously evaluates 173 urban centers across critical domains such as stability, healthcare, cultural vibrancy, environmental quality, educational opportunities, and robust infrastructure. The latest report highlights enduring trends alongside notable shifts, particularly the impressive ascent of Asian cities in the global liveability landscape.
The EIU's Global Liveability Index serves as a crucial barometer for urban environments, assessing their capacity to support and enhance the daily lives of their inhabitants. Copenhagen's consistent top ranking, achieving an outstanding score of 98 out of 100 with perfect marks in stability, education, and infrastructure, underscores its exemplary performance in these key areas. Following closely are Vienna and Melbourne, maintaining their strong positions among the world's most desirable places to reside. While the global average liveability score remains stable at 76.1, the report points to a positive trend in healthcare, education, and infrastructure provisions worldwide. However, these gains are somewhat counterbalanced by a continuous decline in overall stability, a factor that warrants further scrutiny.
A significant highlight of the 2026 index is the remarkable progress of cities in Asia. The continent recorded the most substantial improvement in liveability, with its average score increasing by 0.3 points to 73.9. This upward trend has led to nine Asian cities now being featured within the top 20, a testament to focused investments, especially in healthcare across Chinese urban centers. Fuzhou exemplifies this progress, climbing an impressive seven places to rank 93rd, while Tokyo has also advanced, securing the 10th spot. The top ten list is predominantly populated by cities from Australia, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, and Austria, including well-known hubs like Sydney, Zurich, Geneva, Osaka, Adelaide, and Vancouver, alongside the aforementioned Copenhagen, Vienna, Melbourne, and Tokyo.
Despite these advancements, the EIU index reveals a persistent challenge: global stability. The average stability score across all 173 evaluated cities experienced a decline of 0.5 points. This deterioration was most pronounced in Southwest Asia and North Africa, where the regional average fell by a full point. Cities such as Muscat and Kuwait City witnessed significant drops, moving down 14 and 12 places respectively. Tehran also entered the bottom ten, now ranking 164th. At the very bottom of the liveability spectrum, Damascus continues to be designated as the world's least liveable city, with Tripoli closely following.
The 2026 Global Liveability Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit offers a comprehensive look at urban quality of life across the globe. Copenhagen's sustained leadership underscores its commitment to high standards in crucial sectors. Meanwhile, the notable rise of Asian cities reflects targeted improvements and growing urban development in the region. The findings also serve as a critical reminder of ongoing global stability issues impacting liveability, particularly in certain geopolitical landscapes, highlighting the complex interplay of factors that contribute to a city's overall desirability as a place to live.