Latest news with #HappyCityIndex2025
Time Out
09-05-2025
- General
- Time Out
Two Small British Cities Have Been Named in the World's 100 Happiest Cities 2025
Earlier this week the Happy City Index unveiled its sixth annual list of the planet's happiest metropolises. The report ranked the world's most content places based on a bunch of factors ranging from health stats and the strength of the economy to how well-governed and green each city is. The top spots in the study weren't too surprising, with Copenhagen, Zurich and Singapore taking podium positions. Here in the UK, London was named the country's happiest city – the capital came 31st overall and was the only British place deemed worthy of 'gold status'. You can read more about why London was considered so happy here. But London wasn't the only British city to make the Happy City Index's top 100. Two other smaller places in Blighty featured in the 'silver cities' section, which was awarded to places 32 to 100. The higher-placing of the two was York in 63rd, which did particularly well in the 'environment' category. Based purely on eco credentials – including stuff like promotion of renewable energy and recycling waste management – York was 13th-best in the world. Photograph: Kevin Hellon / Next was Reading at 83, which didn't really excel in any single category but instead enjoyed a stellar performance across the board. Eight other UK cities featured outside the top 100 in the 'bronze' positions: Manchester at joint 101st, Bristol at 103, Oxford at 118, Birmingham at 129, Cambridge at 145, Edinburgh at 161, Newcastle at 182 and Leicester at 188. You can check out the Happy City Index 2025 in more detail here. Did you see that 18 British cities were named among the best in Europe for 2025? Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Copenhagen is the happiest city in the world; this Indian city also on the global list
Copenhagen has been named the happiest city in the world for Danish capital earned the top spot with a score of 1,039 points, surpassing other global cities in key categories such as governance, economy, environment, and mobility. Cities like Copenhagen, Zurich, and Singapore continue to lead the rankings, while cities like Mumbai show significant progress. As urban areas around the world focus on improving quality of life, sustainable policies, and community engagement will play a crucial role in shaping future rankings. The rankings highlight the growing importance of urban policies that prioritize citizens' well-being. In India, Mumbai emerged as the highest-ranking city, securing a position in the global top 50, as per the rankings of Happy City Index 2025 . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Live Updates| From Sindoor to showdown? Track Indo-Pak conflict as it unfolds India's biggest strike against Pakistan since 1971: 70+ terrorists, aides killed Pakistan mounts campaign of lies, deceit and disinformation Copenhagen has claimed the top spot in the 2025 Happy City Index, marking a significant achievement in urban development. The city's focus on sustainability, quality of life, and citizen engagement has contributed to its success. Scoring highest in the Gold category, Copenhagen stood out for its environmental initiatives, effective governance, and emphasis on public health. Following Copenhagen, Zurich, Switzerland , and Singapore ranked second and third respectively. Zurich was praised for its high standards of healthcare, efficient public transport, and overall quality of life. Singapore, known for its green initiatives and innovative infrastructure, also ranked highly in the index, highlighting the city-state's commitment to sustainable urban living. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city, placed fourth in the rankings, while Antwerp, Belgium, rounded out the top five. Both cities have focused on improving public services, integrating green spaces, and creating inclusive environments for all residents. Aarhus, in particular, was recognized for its dedication to sustainability and community engagement. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Mumbai Ranks High Among Indian Cities Live Events You Might Also Like: UK tourist speechless after he visits Indian city: 'Looks like Singapore' In India, Mumbai emerged as the highest-ranked city, securing 49th place globally in the Happy City Index. Known for its vibrant street food scene and blend of modern and historic attractions, Mumbai has become a centre for both local and international visitors. While the city did not make it into the top tier like Copenhagen, its ranking reflects ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life for residents through better infrastructure and public services. The Happy City Index takes into account the diverse needs of different demographic groups, from children to senior citizens. According to the report, "A city of happy people will always mean something different for a five-year-old child who looks for playgrounds and the opportunity to build relationships with parents as part of quality time together, where a quick return home from work will be crucial. Other expectations might be defined by students, corporate professionals, senior citizens, and any other groups with specific needs." This highlights the importance of tailoring city policies to meet the needs of all citizens to ensure their happiness and well-being. Cities must continue to evolve and adapt to support their diverse populations. You Might Also Like: China's own Mount Fuji? A hilltop in the Asian country gets a white makeover, sparks laughter
Time Out
07-05-2025
- General
- Time Out
NYC is among the happiest cities in the world—yes, we're shocked, too
When we think of a classic New York disposition, words like "curmudgeonly", "stern", "impatient" and "no f***s given" come to mind—more Fran Lebowitz than Phoebe Buffay. Imagine our surprise, then, when our not-so-fair city ended up on the Happy City Index 2025, a global study that ranks "cities based on the happiness of their citizens." Created by the London-based Institute for Quality of Life, the annual index evaluates 200 cities worldwide using 82 indicators across six major categories believed to have the most direct impact on overall happiness: governance, environment, economy, mobility, citizen well-being and health. Within those lead markers are 26 subcategories, noting important elements like green space, educational systems, inclusive policies, housing opportunities and access to culture, among others. The cities are then ranked and awarded either gold, silver or bronze status. And much to our delightful shock, New York City has earned gold status in this year's rankings, coming in at number 17 with 902 total points. (For comparison, Copenhagen, Denmark took the top spot of 2025's happiest city with 1,039 points.) NYC was praised for its vibrant cultural scene, its growing investment in sustainable infrastructure, its considerable civic engagement and its innovative spirit. Notably, New York is the only American city to crack the top 25 rankings, which is unsurprisingly dominated by progressive Scandinavian cities like Stockholm and Helsinki, picturesque European capitals like Zurich and Paris, and splashy Asian hubs like Seoul and Singapore. Check out how NYC stacks up among the top 25 happiest cities in the world below and see the full Happy City Index 2025 rankings here. 1. Copenhagen, Denmark: 1039 total points 2. Zurich, Switzerland: 993 total points 3. Singapore: 979 total points 4. Aarhus, Denmark: 958 total points 5. Antwerp, Belgium: 956 total points 6. Seoul, South Korea: 942 total points 7. Stockholm, Sweden: 941 total points 8. Taipei, Taiwan: 936 total points 9. Munich, Germany: 931 total points 10. Rotterdam, Netherlands: 920 total points 11. Vancouver, Canada: 919 total points 12. Vienna, Austria: 918 total points 13. Paris, France: 909 total points 14. Helsinki, Finland: 908 total points 15. Aalborg, Denmark: 906 total points 16. Berlin, Germany: 905 total points 17. New York, USA: 902 total points 18. Dresden, Germany: 893 total points 19. Brussels, Belgium: 887 total points 20. Geneva, Switzerland: 883 total points 21. Porto, Portugal: 879 total points 22. Barcelona, Spain: 875 total points 23. Oslo, Norway: 870 total points 24. Dublin, Ireland: 862 total points 25. Milan, Italy: 856 total points
