The capital of Austria, Vienna, has reclaimed its title as the most livable city in the world, according to the annual report by the Economist released on June 23.
Vienna has taken the top spot from Auckland (New Zealand), which has fallen to 34th place due to pandemic-related restrictions, as reported by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), according to AFP.
The report states that Vienna had previously dropped to 12th place in the rankings at the beginning of 2021 when museums and restaurants were closed. “Since then, the city has gradually regained its top position, which it held in 2018 and 2019,” the report noted.
“Stability and good infrastructure are the main attractions of the city for residents, along with excellent healthcare services and numerous opportunities for culture and entertainment,” the report added.
Vienna, Austria has regained its title as the most livable city in the world. (Photo: Shutterstock).
Europe boasts 6 of the top 10 cities on the list. Following Vienna are the capital of Copenhagen in Denmark and Zurich in Switzerland. The city of Geneva in Switzerland ranks 6th, Frankfurt in Germany is 7th, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands is 9th.
Several Canadian cities also rank high on the list. Calgary is in 3rd place, followed by Vancouver in 5th place and Toronto in 8th place.
Osaka in Japan and Melbourne in Australia share the 10th position. The capital of Paris in France ranks 19th, a rise of 23 spots from last year.
The capital of Kyiv in Ukraine is not on the list this year, while the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia have dropped in rank due to “censorship” and the impact of Western sanctions.
The ranking of Moscow (Russia) has decreased by 15 places, while St. Petersburg fell by 13 places. “Increased censorship accompanies the ongoing conflict,” the report notes.
Other cities in Eastern Europe are considered less stable following “diplomatic tensions” due to the conflict in Ukraine. The capital of Damascus in Syria, which has been devastated by war, remains at the bottom of the livability list.
