Latest news with #GlobalLiveabilityIndex
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Karachi's liveability crisis
EDITORIAL: Karachi's ranking of 170 out of 173 cities on the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index, released on June 17, is a stark reflection of its severe shortcomings in infrastructure, safety, healthcare and overall quality of life. Scoring a dismal 42.7 out of 100 across five categories — stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure — the city remains among the world's least liveable, plagued by crumbling services, environmental degradation and rampant inequality. Karachi's failings are especially jarring, given that urbanisation is often hailed as a driver of economic growth — stimulating investment, creating jobs and fostering innovation through dense networks of people and ideas. Yet, Pakistan's experience, and particularly Karachi's, tells a different story. Urbanisation here has unfolded in an entirely haphazard manner, leaving the city unprepared for its accompanying challenges. Instead of reaping the promised benefits of this phenomenon, Karachi embodies every conceivable disadvantage of unchecked urban growth: poor infrastructure, failing public services, environmental collapse, rising crime and deepening socioeconomic divides. The result is a metropolis where survival, not prosperity, remains the priority for far too many. Any study of Karachi's urban dysfunction will reveal that its decades-long decline is rooted in the weak and fragmented nature of its governance. As has been noted in this space before, less than half the city falls under the jurisdiction of city government authorities, with this fractured system deepening class divisions — where elites reside in upscale enclaves, while lower-income groups are left to battle neglect, exclusion from planning processes and inadequate public services. Politicised public institutions and a chronic lack of coordination among planning bodies have fuelled major urban failures, including a deteriorating housing stock, crumbling infrastructure, unreliable water supply, weakened local governments and growing climate vulnerabilities. The lack of coherent urban policy and enforcement has also fuelled chaotic expansion, with undocumented slums and peripheral settlements proliferating beyond the reach of basic services. This unchecked growth, in turn, has triggered an environmental crisis: solid waste overwhelms inadequate disposal systems, industrial pollution poisons air and water, and unrestrained construction devours green spaces, further eroding Karachi's liveability. It goes without saying that addressing Karachi's deep-rooted challenges demands a comprehensive restructuring of its governance and planning systems. First, it is essential to ensure that the city receives dedicated, long-term funding to upgrade its ageing infrastructure, expand essential services and build resilience against growing environmental threats. A World Bank study conducted by the Sindh government last year found that Karachi needs USD 3 billion annually just to modernise its dilapidated infrastructure. To meet such demands, sustainable revenue streams must be identified, recognising that investing in Karachi — given its centrality to Pakistan's economic, cultural and political lifeblood — will yield benefits not only for its residents but for the entire country. However, just throwing money at the problem won't be enough. Karachi needs its planning processes to actively involve local communities and homegrown experts, especially those with deep knowledge of the city's unique climate vulnerabilities that are often overlooked by external consultants. Development decisions must remain uninhibited by interference from the provincial and federal governments, with meaningful devolution of power through truly autonomous local governments. Crucially, the current fragmented governance structure must be addressed; as long as vast areas remain under separate entities like cantonment boards, a cohesive urban strategy will remain elusive. Back in 2015, Karachi ranked 135 out of 140 cities on the Global Liveability Index. A decade later, its continuing slide in the rankings lays bare the city's unchecked decline. This is a damning indictment of deep-seated governance failures, corruption and indifference of policymakers to the city's plight. It must be recognised that without radical governance and investment reforms, Karachi's downward trajectory will persist, dragging down its residents and the country alike. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
The world's 10 least liveable cities in 2025
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its latest Global Liveability Index, evaluating 173 cities on five critical categories: stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education, and infrastructure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per the said report, this year's average score remains unchanged from last year, at 76.1 out of 100. These rankings offer a global snapshot of how livable, or not, urban life is across the world. While the top cities often remain familiar, such as Vienna, Copenhagen, Zurich, the bottom of the list reflects regions gripped by war, political instability, economic collapse, or decaying infrastructure. The 2025 report shows a worrying trend: while healthcare and infrastructure saw some improvements globally, stability scores declined, thanks to ongoing conflicts and civil unrest. Here are the 10 least liveable cities in the world in 2025, based on the EIU's Global Liveability Index. Read more: Damascus, Syria — Score: 30.7/100 Holding its position at the very bottom, Syria's capital remains a city caught in the long shadow of civil war. Decimated infrastructure, limited healthcare, ongoing violence, and humanitarian crises make daily life perilous. Tripoli, Libya — Score: 40.1/100 Tripoli continues to suffer from lawlessness, rival militia control, and failing governance. Services are patchy at best, and instability keeps any sense of normalcy out of reach. Dhaka, Bangladesh — Score: 41.7/100 Overcrowded and choking on its own rapid expansion, Dhaka was down three places following the political upheaval in the country in 2024. Also, in terms of infrastructure, healthcare, and environmental quality, it hasn't fared well. Karachi, Pakistan — Score: 42.7/100 Pakistan's largest city has been facing persistent challenges in terms of infrastructure quality, urban governance, and public safety. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Public healthcare and transportation remain critically under-resourced. Read more: Algiers, Algeria — Score: 42.8/100 Algiers struggles with economic stagnation, poor infrastructure, and limited political freedoms. It scores particularly low on cultural vibrancy and environmental health. Lagos, Nigeria — Score: 43.5/100 Africa's most populous city faces major challenges: extreme traffic congestion, pollution, safety issues, and a strained healthcare system. Despite its commercial vibrance, quality of life is low. Harare, Zimbabwe — Score: 43.8/100 Economic instability, hyperinflation, and poor service delivery continue to plague Harare. Power shortages and water scarcity are routine, and healthcare access is minimal. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea — Score: 44.1/100 With high crime rates, weak infrastructure, and limited medical facilities, Port Moresby remains one of the least liveable cities in the Asia-Pacific region. Kyiv, Ukraine — Score: 44.5/100 This list also includes Kyiv. Notwithstanding the city's solid cultural and educational underpinnings, the main contributing reason is the enormous risk to civilian life posed by continuous shelling and enduring security threats, which have a detrimental effect on general stability. Caracas, Venezuela — Score: 44.9/100 In a country plagued by some of the highest homicide rates globally, it's no surprise that its capital struggles with liveability. Caracas records a low stability score of 35 and just 37.5 in healthcare, resulting in an overall livability score of 44.9.
Time Out
4 days ago
- Time Out
Osaka named one of the world's most liveable cities in 2025
While Tokyo remains one of Japan's hottest destinations – not least thanks to its top-tier airports and affordability – another city is gaining attention for its exceptional liveability. This year, Osaka was ranked as the seventh most livable city in the world according to the Economist 's annual Global Liveability Index, which examines a total of 173 cities worldwide. While Tokyo has made this ranking in the past, Osaka is the only city in Asia to crack the top ten this year. Osaka is tied for seventh place with Auckland, New Zealand, just behind Copenhagen (No 1), Vienna (No 2), Zurich (No 3), Melbourne (No 4), Geneva (No 5) and Sydney (No 6). Rounding out the top ten are Adelaide and Vancouver. This year's report evaluated over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five main categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Osaka earned a score of 96 on the global index, compared to 98 for top-ranked Copenhagen. The Kansai city received full marks for stability, healthcare, and education. It scored 86.8 for culture and environment, and 96.4 for infrastructure. Here's a full look at the top ten cities and their total index score: 1. Copenhagen, Denmark (98.0) 2. Vienna, Austria (97.1) 2. Zurich, Switzerland (97.1) 4. Melbourne, Australia (97.0) 5. Geneva, Switzerland (96.8) 6. Sydney, Australia (96.6) 7. Osaka, Japan (96.0) 7. Auckland, New Zealand (96.0) 9. Adelaide, Australia (95.9) 10. Vancouver, Canada (95.8) With its high scores across the board, Osaka continues to prove itself not just as a vibrant travel destination, but as one of the world's best places to live in. And with the World Expo taking place in the city until October this year, there's never been a better time to visit. For more information on the Global Liveability Index, head to the website. How to purchase tickets for the 2025 Osaka Expo teamLab is opening a permanent immersive art museum in Kyoto
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows Best Cities To Live in Right Now
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Denmark, Australia and Switzerland are home to some of the world's best cities to live in, a new study has shown. Copenhagen has been named the world's most livable city in 2025, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index, displacing Vienna in Austria, which came second after a three-year run at the top. The Danish capital achieved perfect scores of 100 in stability, education, and infrastructure, pushing it from second place to first in a global assessment of 173 cities. The EIU's annual index evaluates cities across 30 indicators grouped into five categories, which include stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. While the average global score remained unchanged from 2024 at 76.1 out of 100, the report noted a persistent decline in global stability, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and civil unrest. "Copenhagen's rise to the top underscores the power of consistent investment in public goods," said Matt Watkins, a public affairs strategist and policy analyst, told Newsweek. He consults cities across the United States and a few other nations on urban development, economic mobility and quality-of-life strategies. Melbourne in Australia placed fourth, continuing its strong performance in the rankings, with two other Australian cities—Sydney and Adelaide—also among the top 10. Other cities filling out the top 10 slots included Auckland in New Zealand, Osaka in Japan, and Vancouver in Canada. Watkins noted: "Livability is a choice. These outcomes do not emerge by chance. They happen when governments commit to universal baselines that ensure quality of life—things like clean public transit in Zurich, affordable child care in Copenhagen, strong public education in Melbourne, and access to green space in Auckland." North American cities overall remained in the highest tier of livability, with all 21 assessed scoring above 80. Two Canadian cities, Calgary and Toronto, also experienced drops. "We have lowered the health care scores for all four Canadian cities in our index," the EIU report noted. All three cities in the United Kingdom in the index—London, Manchester, and Edinburgh—saw their placements fall in the wider ranking due to widespread riots and rising homelessness. Stock image: Houses line the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen, the Danish capital. Stock image: Houses line the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen, the Danish capital. Getty "Walkability is a common thread among the world's most livable cities," Watkins said. "When people can safely and easily walk to schools, grocery stores, parks, and transit, everything else becomes more connected—public health improves; small businesses thrive; emissions drop; and community life flourishes." The EIU highlighted that, while stability declined globally, other aspects of urban life have improved. "Scores for health care, education and infrastructure all saw marginal improvements on average," the report said. Cities in the Middle East and North Africa region showed the most-notable gains, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, due to significant advancements in health care and education. Watkins emphasized that high-quality infrastructure alone isn't what makes a city truly livable. "What makes a city truly livable is not just infrastructure, but connection," he said. He added: "The most-livable cities foster a sense of belonging—through public spaces that invite gathering; services that reduce isolation; and policies that help people put down roots. Whether it is Vienna's cultural investment or Vancouver's focus on inclusivity, these cities recognize that social cohesion is as important to well-being as hospitals and transit lines." Watkins added that the world's most-livable cities succeed because they treat livability as a public mandate. He said: "These places remind us that good governance is not just about efficiency; it is about creating conditions where people can move freely, connect easily, and live with dignity." Top 10 Most Liveable Cities 1. Copenhagen, Denmark 2. Vienna, Austria 3. Zurich, Switzerland 4. Melbourne, Australia 5. Geneva, Switzerland 6. Sydney, Australia 7. Osaka, Japan 8. Auckland, New Zealand 9. Adelaide, Australia 10. Vancouver, Canada Source: A ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) based on an assessment of 30 indicators grouped into five categories, including stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
India.com
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- India.com
Global Liveability Index 2025: Only One Asian City In Top 10, Pakistan-Bangladesh At Bottom- Where Does India Rank?
photoDetails english 2919886 Updated:Jun 22, 2025, 11:21 AM IST Copenhagen Tops the List in 2025 1 / 16 The Danish capital, Copenhagen, has dethroned Vienna to become the most liveable city in the world. The city earned perfect scores in infrastructure, education, and stability, pushing it to the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2025. Vienna Drops to Second Over Security Fears 2 / 16 Vienna, which held the top spot for three consecutive years, slipped to second place due to a drop in its stability score triggered by recent terror threats. Despite this, it still leads in healthcare and maintains excellent scores in other categories. Asia-Pacific Makes Gains, But Only One Makes Top 10 3 / 16 Only one Asian city made it into the top 10 this year. While cities in Japan and Australia performed well, they couldn't crack the highest ranks. The Asia-Pacific region did see overall gains in education and infrastructure. North America's Bright Spot: Vancouver 4 / 16 Vancouver remains North America's only entry in the top 10, thanks to its consistent high scores in healthcare, infrastructure, and environment. However, the US continues to struggle with urban crime and political instability affecting its city rankings. Western Europe Dominates the Top 10 5 / 16 Six of the top 10 most liveable cities in 2025 are from Western Europe. Cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Frankfurt continue to impress with their public transport, education systems, and quality of life. Middle East Cities Slowly Climb 6 / 16 Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia is among the biggest risers this year. Thanks to the Vision 2030 reforms, the city improved its scores in education and healthcare. However, instability in the broader region continues to hold others back. The World's Top 10 Most Liveable Cities in 2025: 7 / 16 Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit- Global Liveability Index 2025 The World's Least Liveable Cities in 2025 8 / 16 Damascus once again ranked at the very bottom with a dismal score of 30.7, plagued by war and crumbling infrastructure. Tripoli (Libya), Dhaka (Bangladesh), and Karachi (Pakistan) also remain in the bottom 10, with minimal improvements. The World's Bottom 10 Least Liveable Cities in 2025: 9 / 16 Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit- Global Liveability Index 2025 Where Does India Rank in the Global Liveability Index 2025? 10 / 16 India continues to face challenges in the Global Liveability Index 2025, with none of its major cities making it to the top half of the rankings. While cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai showed modest improvements in infrastructure and education, rising pollution levels, traffic congestion, and political instability have impacted their overall scores. Additionally, growing concerns over healthcare accessibility and urban safety have kept Indian cities from climbing higher. The stability score, in particular, took a hit due to socio-political tensions and security concerns. Though there's visible progress in tech hubs and metro expansions, India still has a long way to go before it competes with global leaders in liveability. Instability and Conflict Drag Rankings Down 11 / 16 Political tensions, threats of conflict, and civil unrest caused a global 0.2-point drop in stability scores. Cities like Tehran and those in Taiwan and parts of India saw noticeable ranking drops due to these concerns. Healthcare and Education Saw Global Improvement 12 / 16 Despite geopolitical issues, global averages in healthcare and education have improved slightly. Better facilities and post-COVID policy investments played a role in this rise, especially in the Middle East and South Asia. Top 10 Most Liveable Cities (2025): 13 / 16 1. Copenhagen 2. Vienna 3. Zurich 4. Geneva 5. Vancouver 6. Frankfurt 7. Amsterdam 8. Osaka 9. Melbourne 10. Munich Bottom 5 Least Liveable Cities (2025): 14 / 16 1. Damascus 2. Tripoli 3. Dhaka 4. Karachi 5. Port Moresby Why These Rankings Matter? 15 / 16 As people continue to migrate to cities in search of better lives, these rankings shape global conversations about urban planning, investment, and migration. They help governments, businesses, and citizens make informed decisions about where to live and work. Global Liveability Index 2025 16 / 16
