Latest news with #GlobalLiveabilityIndex2025
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why is the Global Liveability Index 2025 relevant for UPSC Exam?
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Global Liveability Index 2025. (Relevance: UPSC frequently asks questions on reports and indices. The key takeaways from these reports are also essential fodder for your Mains examination for intricate points. In 2023, UPSC has asked questions on the World Water Development Report; in 2019, the question was on the Global Competitiveness Report. Therefore, you need to get a comprehensive understanding of these indices.) Urbanisation and urban migration have increased in recent years as people pursue better economic opportunities and living conditions. This has led to the concept of liveable cities—places that are sustainable, inclusive, and offer essential services, amenities, and opportunities for both personal and professional growth. In this context, let's know about the Global Liveability Index 2025 and its key highlights. 1. Global Liveability Index 2025, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), assesses which locations around the world offer the best and worst living conditions. 2. Methodology and Indicators: The EIU's Global Liveability Index 2025 assessed 173 cities globally based on 30 indicators across theses five categories to disclose how comfortable these cities are to live in. 📌Stability, 📌Healthcare, 📌Culture and environment, 📌Education, and 📌Infrastructure. 3. Each indicator is rated as acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable or intolerable. The ratings are then weighted to provide a score from 1 to 100. The liveability rating of a city is given both as an overall score and as a score for each category. An overall position in the ranking of 173 cities is also provided. 1. This year's global average livability score across the 173 cities in the index was the same as last year, at 76.1 out of 100. 2. The index saw overall gains in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in 2025; however, the global average stability scores declined by 0.2 points amid rising geopolitical instability, civil unrest, and the global housing crisis. 3. Copenhagen has claimed the top spot to become the world's most liveable city in 2025, ending Vienna's three-year dominance by achieving perfect scores in stability, education, and infrastructure. The Austrian city saw a massive decline in its stability score due to terror threats, yet it outpaced the Danish capital in healthcare. 4. Western European cities once again dominated the global liveability rankings in 2025, followed closely by the Asia Pacific region, and the Canadian city, Vancouver represented North America in the top ten. 5. In contrast, cities in the Middle East and Africa ranked among the least liveable; however, on a more positive note, with marginal improvements in healthcare, education and infrastructure on average. -care Note: While there are no formal rankings for 3rd and 4th place, their relative positions are implied by their differing scores. (Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit- Global Liveability Index 2025.) 6. At the other end of the spectrum, cities in conflict zones or those battling weak infrastructure and public services continued to rank poorly. 7. Among the least Least Liveable Cities in 2025, Damascus retained its position as the least liveable city in the world, scoring just 30.7. Tripoli, Dhaka, and Karachi also remained near the bottom. 8. Notably, Stability scores have also declined in places like Tehran, Taiwan, and India due to mounting tensions and the threat of armed conflict. 1. The Smart Cities Mission was launched on June 25, 2015 with the aim of creating 100 smart cities. The cities were selected in rounds of competition held from January 2016 to June 2018, and they had five years from their respective selection, that is 2021 to 2023, to complete the projects. 2. Among its strategic components was 'area-based development', which includes city improvement (retrofitting), city renewal (redevelopment) and city extension (greenfield development), plus a pan-city initiative in which 'smart solutions' are applied covering larger parts of the city. 1. Statutory towns — those which have urban local bodies like municipal corporation, municipality or municipal committee. 2. Census towns — All those places satisfying the following 3 criteria: a) Population of atleast 5000 persons. b) Minimum population density of 400 persons per sq. km. and c) 75 per cent of the male workforce is employed in non-agricultural activities 3. In 2021, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs decided to push the deadline for all 100 cities to June 2023. The deadline was further pushed to June 30, 2024 and then to March 31, 2025. Consider the following statements with regard to the Global Liveability Index 2025: 1. It is released by the World Economic Forum. 2. Copenhagen is the world's most liveable city in 2025. 3. Damascus is the least liveable city in the world. How many of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Sources: World's top 10 most and least liveable cities in 2025, 7 % projects to continue as Smart Cities Mission set to end March 31, Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
India.com
22-06-2025
- 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
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
World's top 10 most and least liveable cities in 2025: Only one Asian city ranks high; Bangladesh and Pakistan among the lowest
Global Liveability Index 2025: In recent years, urban migration has risen as people seek better economic prospects and living standards, giving rise to the concept of liveable cities—sustainable, inclusive, and equipped with essential services, amenities, and opportunities that foster personal and professional growth. According to the recently released Global Liveability Index 2025 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the global average livability score across the 173 cities in the index was the same as last year, at 76.1 out of 100. The index saw overall gains in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in 2025; however, the global average stability scores declined by 0.2 points amid rising geopolitical instability, civil unrest, and the global housing crisis. Western European cities once again dominated the global liveability rankings in 2025, followed closely by the Asia Pacific region, and the Canadian city, Vancouver represented North America in the top ten. In contrast, cities in the Middle East and Africa ranked among the least liveable; however, on a more positive note, with marginal improvements in healthcare, education and infrastructure on average. There were advancements within cities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Al Khobar in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notably moving up the ranks. The Kingdom is spending extensively on healthcare and education as part of Vision 2030, a comprehensive economic diversification initiative aimed at reducing the country's dependency on oil. Copenhagen has claimed the top spot to become the world's most liveable city in 2025, ending Vienna's three-year dominance by achieving perfect scores in stability, education, and infrastructure. The Austrian city saw a massive decline in its stability score due to terror threats, yet it outpaced the Danish capital in healthcare. Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit- Global Liveability Index 2025 Note: To view the complete scores across all indices, please scroll or swipe to the right At the other end of the spectrum, cities in conflict zones or those battling weak infrastructure and public services continued to rank poorly. Damascus retained its position as the least liveable city in the world, scoring just 30.7. Tripoli, Dhaka, and Karachi also remained near the bottom. While some cities in the Middle East and Africa showed marginal improvements in infrastructure and healthcare, persistent instability continues to drag overall liveability down. Stability scores have also declined in places like Tehran, Taiwan, and India due to mounting tensions and the threat of armed conflict; listed below are the bottom 10 countries in the Global Liveability Index 2025: Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit- Global Liveability Index 2025 Note: To view the complete scores across all indices, please scroll or swipe to the right Methodology: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)'s Global Liveability Index 2025 assessed 173 cities globally based on 30 indicators divided into several factors like stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure, to disclose how comfortable these cities are to live in. Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager - Content at The Indian Express. She is responsible for crafting compelling narratives, uncovering the latest news and developments, and driving engaging content based on data and trends to boost website traffic and audience engagement. One can connect with her on LinkedIn or by mail at ... Read More
Herald Sun
18-06-2025
- Herald Sun
World's most liveable cities 2025 revealed, Australia ranks three times in top 10
Australia has impressively taken out three of the top 10 spots on the 2025 ranking of most liveable cities in the world. Melbourne has once again beat rival Sydney, coming in at number four on the Economist Intelligent Unit's annual Global Liveability Index. Sydney ranked sixth and Adelaide was ninth. The index assesses 173 cities around the world across the categories of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, was crowned the best city to live, ending Vienna's three-year run in the top spot. But, before Copenhagen and Vienna, it was Melbourne that held the title of world's most liveable city for seven years. Victoria's state capital got dethroned in 2018. The Economist Intelligent Unit's Global Liveability Index 2025. Copenhagen received perfect scores for stability, education and infrastructure. Austria's capital Vienna may no longer be number one, but it still placed second, tying with Switzerland's Zurich. Vienna's stability score fell significantly, attributed to incidents such as the bomb threat at Taylor Swift's August 2024 concert that led to the cancellation of three shows. EIU said overall this year's results reflected a continued decline in global stability, 'driven by intensifying geopolitical conflict and civil unrest'. Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide all earned perfect scores for healthcare and education this year. Melbourne was ranked fourth most liveable city in the world. Picture: iStock Australia's friend across the ditch, New Zealand, also made the top 10, with Auckland placing equal seventh with another city loved by Aussies — Osaka in Japan. About 920,000 Australians visited Japan in 2024, setting a new record. This year we're expected to break the one million mark for the first time. Switzerland made an appearance in the top 10 a second time, squeezing in between Melbourne and Sydney with Geneva in fifth place. Vancouver, Canada rounded out the top 10 as North America's only representative. The EIU said it lowered the healthcare scores this year for all four Canadian cities in the index. EIU deputy industry director Barsali Bhattacharyya told CNN there were 'long waiting lists for medical check-ups' and staff shortages at medical facilities and hospitals. Calgary dropped all the way from fifth place in 2024 to 18th in 2025. All the cities covered by the index in the UK (London, Manchester and Edinburgh) also dropped down the ranks, 'following widespread riots and rising homelessness,' the EIU noted. The highest US city on the list was Honolulu, Hawaii at number 23. Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia climbed the most places up the ranking this year from 148th to 135th. War torn Damascus in Syria is again the worst city to live in. Originally published as World's most liveable cities 2025 revealed, Australia ranks three times in top 10
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Time Out
Only one Asian city cracked the global top ten for liveability – can you guess which?
Move aside, Tokyo. Osaka is the hottest Japanese city for 2025. The port city – always ever-so-slightly overshadowed by Tokyo – has cracked the top ten of the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2025. Released today, the Global Liveability Index 2025 ranked 173 cities worldwide based on over 30 factors over five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Remarkably, Osaka is the only Asian city to make it to the top ten. It ranked seventh worldwide with an overall score of 96, with full marks in the stability, healthcare, and education categories. It scored 96.4 in infrastructure and 86.8 in culture and environment. The rest of the top ten is dominated by cities from western Europe and Australia, with Copenhagen unseating Vienna as the most liveable city in the world. Overall, the EIU notes a decline in stability scores in Asia due to intensified military threats in countries like India and Taiwan. But there are beacons of hope, cities that have shown marked improvement in this year's index. Jakarta, Indonesia, moved up ten positions to rank 132 thanks to improved stability scores. Its security forces have been working hard to build resilience against terrorism and to quell domestic protests. A long-term challenge? Floods and other climate-related risks. In Thailand, Bangkok and Chiang Mai jumped six spots to rank 116 and 130, respectively. Hong Kong also moved six spots to rank 44, and Surabaya moved three spots to rank 150. Check out the full Global Liveability Index 2025 report here and see why we think Osaka is the hottest Japanese city in 2025. Top 10 most liveable cities in 2025: Copenhagen, Denmark Vienna, Austria Zurich, Switzerland Melbourne, Australia Geneva, Switzerland Sydney, Australia Osaka, Japan Auckland, New Zealand Adelaide, Australia Vancouver, Canada Did you hear? These are the safest airlines in Asia for 2025
