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The Global Liveability Index 2026, published annually by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), ranks the world’s most liveable cities by evaluating the quality of life across 173 urban centres. The report is recognised internationally as one of the most authoritative benchmarks for measuring urban liveability and is widely used by governments, businesses and investors to assess economic, social and geopolitical conditions.
The 2026 edition confirms Europe’s leadership while highlighting significant improvements across Asia and growing stability in several North American cities. At the same time, on-going geopolitical tension continues to affect the performance of parts of the Middle East.
What the global liveability index measures
The EIU assesses each city using five key categories that influence everyday life and long-term urban sustainability:
- Stability and public safety
- Healthcare quality
- Culture and environment
- Education
- Infrastructure and public services
Together, these indicators provide a comprehensive picture of how effectively a city supports the wellbeing, security and opportunities available to its residents.
Global Trends in 2026
Although the overall global average remained broadly stable, regional differences were more evident in 2026.
Asian cities continued to improve thanks to sustained investment in healthcare, transport networks and public services. Several North American cities strengthened their rankings through improvements in safety and infrastructure, while geopolitical instability negatively affected parts of the Middle East.
These developments underline how investment, governance and political stability increasingly shape urban quality of life around the world.
Europe remains the global leader
Europe continues to dominate the Global Liveability Index thanks to its high standards of healthcare, reliable public transport, political stability and well-developed infrastructure.
The leading European cities include:
- Vienna (Austria) – Consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable cities thanks to outstanding healthcare, efficient public transport and exceptional stability.
- Copenhagen (Denmark) – Renowned for sustainability, environmental quality and excellent public services.
- Zurich (Switzerland) – Offers outstanding infrastructure, safety and an exceptionally high quality of life.
- Geneva (Switzerland) – Excels in healthcare, education and effective urban governance.
- Munich (Germany) – Combines excellent infrastructure with a strong economy and highly efficient public services.
Europe remains the region with the largest number of cities in the global top rankings.
Asia continues to improve
Asian cities continue to climb the rankings thanks to major investments in infrastructure, healthcare and technology.
Among the region’s top performers are:
- Singapore, recognised globally for efficiency, safety and world-class infrastructure.
- Tokyo and Osaka, which continue to excel in healthcare, transport and public safety.
- Seoul, benefiting from continuous innovation and smart city development.
- Several Chinese cities, showing steady improvements driven by investments in healthcare and public infrastructure.
North America shows greater stability
The 2026 report highlights improving stability across several North American cities.
Key performers include:
- Vancouver, consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable cities.
- Toronto, recognised for its cultural diversity, education and public services.
- Calgary, maintaining excellent scores for stability and overall quality of life.
- New York, which recorded improvements in stability and urban services compared with previous years.
Middle East faces new challenges
Regional instability linked to the conflict involving Iran has affected liveability scores across parts of the Middle East.
Despite these challenges, several cities continue to perform well:
- Dubai, remaining one of the region’s strongest performers.
- Abu Dhabi, recognised for high-quality infrastructure and public services.
- Doha, maintaining a good quality of life despite increasing regional pressures.
Latin America records gradual progress
Several Latin American cities continue to improve their overall liveability.
Leading cities include:
- Santiago, one of the continent’s highest-ranked cities.
- Buenos Aires, improving particularly in culture and public services.
- Montevideo, recognised for political stability and consistently high living standards.
Africa continues to face structural challenges
African cities continue to face significant challenges, particularly regarding safety and infrastructure.
Among the region’s leading cities are:
- Cape Town, offering one of Africa’s highest quality-of-life standards despite ongoing security concerns.
- Johannesburg, supported by relatively strong infrastructure but limited by lower stability.
- Nairobi, showing encouraging progress through continued infrastructure investment.
Top three most liveable cities in 2026
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the world’s three most liveable cities in 2026 are:
- Vienna
- Copenhagen
- Zurich
These cities continue to set the global benchmark for urban liveability by combining political stability, excellent healthcare, high-quality public services, modern infrastructure and an outstanding quality of life.
Why the ranking matters
The Global Liveability Index has become an important reference for governments, international organisations, investors and individuals considering relocation. Over and above identifying the world’s best places to live, the ranking highlights how healthcare, infrastructure, education and political stability directly influence urban development and long-term quality of life.
As cities continue to compete for talent and investment, the results in 2026 demonstrate that sustained public investment and effective governance remain the key drivers of urban liveability.
