According to a survey conducted annually by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the Economist Business Group, which owns The World’s famous Economist magazine, Auckland in New Zealand, becomes the most liveable city in the world. Osaka in Japan is second on the list and Adelaide in Australia is the third. In addition Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, and Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane cities in Australia are among the top ten most liveable cities. Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland rank as seventh and eighth on the list.
In compiling this list, cities are rated according to a number of criteria under five broad categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. The EIU added a number of new indicators due to the current pandemic situation, including concern on health care, as well as restrictions on local sporting events, cinemas, concerts, restaurants and schools. The selection is made annually among 140 cities in different countries.
Due to the Covid pandemic, there have been various changes to this year’s list compared to previous years.
During the survey period from 22nd February to 21st March 2021, cities in many European countries were downgraded when compare to the previous years due to lockdown policy or an increase in the number of active Covid cases. The city of Vienna, Austria, topped the list in 2018 and 2019, but lost that place this year and finished the twelfth position in this year’s list.
Cities at the top of the list are belong to the countries that have successfully controlled epidemics by imposing strict travel restrictions and vaccination programme during the survey period, despite the devastation caused by the Covid epidemic in many parts of the world. Life in those countries has improved somewhat, and these countries have been able to ease restrictions, such as restrictions on travel, earlier than others. It is noteworthy that the island nations, which are largely isolated from other countries, topped the list in terms of pandemic management and control.
Access more information and the full report here,
https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/global-liveability-index-2021/