These comparisons are always a little ridiculous, subject to internal, often invisible, judgment calls — how much better environment and commuting is worth how much stability, and wth does "stability" even mean?! — and with outcomes that rank the top-10 or so cities within very narrow margin (<2.5%). i.e., it's all a wash.
This year, they make a big deal of Vienna, where I just was (#1005577), having lost its crown:
For the second year running living conditions have not improved in cities around the world, according to the latest liveability index from EIU
Five categories (healthcare, culture/environ, education, infrastructure, stability)... and the declines are all in "stability," whatever that means.
ANZ doing remarkably well, with Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and Adelaide all in the top-10.
The Austrian capital was the world’s most liveable city from 2022 to 2024. But this year it lost its place because two foiled terrorist attacks—on a Taylor Swift concert and on a train station—brought down its stability score, which quantifies the threat of military conflict, civil unrest and terrorism.
Size matters
London and New York are in 54th and 69th place respectively. Crime levels and the threat of terrorism are high in those cities. Their roads are also congested. Tokyo, the world’s largest city, ranks 13th.
This over-time chart was pretty cool... I wonder what happened there in the middle, making all cities drop at the same time?
Anyway, nice lil comparison.
full, short, article available here: https://archive.md/hVWDD