Latest news with #GlobalLiveabilityIndex
Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Residents of Karachi call for attention
While the concerned residents watch in silence, the city of Karachi falls from one low to another. Karachi, once hailed as the 'City of Lights' and the economic powerhouse of Pakistan, has once again been ranked among the bottom five of the world's least liveable cities in the 2025 Global Liveability Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The metropolis ranked 170 on a list of 173 countries — just above Dhaka, Tripoli and Damascus — and had a score of 42.7 on the index score, with a score of 100 being the 'most liveable'. Karachi's fall from a model metropolis to one of the least liveable cities is a story of systemic governance failures, lack of ownership, haphazard and rapid urbanization, and indifferent attitude of its residents to a greater extent. This consistent low ranking reflects the city's long-standing and deep-rooted challenges. The decay is on all accounts. There is not a single segment which can be rated as anywhere near to being satisfactory - be it civic amenities, local government organisations, law and order situation, environment, public health and education. Decaying roads, insufficient public transport, and lack of urban zoning have led to traffic chaos, slums, and encroachments. Drainage and waste management systems are outdated, causing frequent urban flooding and unhygienic conditions. Chronic shortages of potable water, load-shedding, and broken sewerage systems plague most neighborhoods. Multiple overlapping administrative authorities (KMC, provincial government, cantonments) result in inefficiency and blame-shifting. Political turf wars hinder long-term development planning and discourage investment. Although improved since the 2010s, Karachi still struggles with street crime, gang violence in pockets, and police inefficiency. Law and order issues affect residents' quality of life and investor confidence. Severe air and water pollution, coastal erosion, unchecked industrial waste, and the loss of green spaces have made Karachi one of the most environmentally-stressed cities. Overburdened hospitals, inadequate primary health coverage, and crumbling public education infrastructure further lower liveability standards. It is not so much a question of lack of funds availability to Karachi to set things right, but it is more of a lack of will to perform and transparency in the deployment and utilisation of the allocated funds for the right cause. A good example to cite that things are doable in Pakistan where there's a will to deliver is the mass transportation system of Karachi comparable to that of Lahore. A Japanese soft loan was offered for the revival of Karachi Circular Railway and Chinese financing under CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) for Karachi Mass Transit System. While Karachi is struggling since years to put on ground the Green Line Mass Transit System and revive circular railway for the mass transit of its citizens, the city of Lahore has since long provided its citizens a state-of-art mass transit 'Orange Line' under CPEC financing for transportation of its residents from the rural part of Lahore to urban parts and another inter-city mass transit bus system, financed by the government of Punjab for transportation. Lahore has provided its residents a decent mode of transportation. The mass transit system has also been provided to the residents of Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi. Insofar as other civic amenities are concerned, the city of Karachi is left far behind its peers in the country. Onward solutions for a livable Karachi are many like a single governance authority, a decent mass transit system & infrastructure development, green and resilient urban planning with revival of parks and coastal zones, smart policing and community safety, public-private partnerships (PPPs) for water, sanitation, health, education and all sectors to improve service delivery and develop Karachi's resilience to heatwaves, floods, and sea-level rise through early warning systems and coastal defences. These are the basic expected from a city government and all are doable. The civil society of Karachi is a committed and vibrant society and many doable plans have been provided to the provincial and local governments. There are many listeners but no doers. A number of philanthropists and private sector of Karachi have very ably taken over some of the responsibility of the city in the field of education and healthcare and have provided relief to the citizens of the city. They may have to extend their engagement in the infrastructure development of the city under public private partnerships. With over 20 million residents and a strategic economic position, turning Karachi around is not just a local priority but a national imperative to save Karachi, a city of teeming millions. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
The best US city to live in ranks outside the world's top 20
Honolulu has been named the best city to live in the U.S. for the second consecutive year, ranking 23rd globally in the Economist Intelligence Unit 's Global Liveability Index for 2025. Other top U.S. cities include Atlanta (29th), Pittsburgh (30th), Seattle (34th), and Washington D.C. (38th), while major cities like New York (69th) and Los Angeles (57th) ranked lower. U.S. cities generally performed well in education but faced challenges due to social unrest and gun violence, which undermined social cohesion. The report's authors expressed concern that proposed policies by Donald Trump to cut public spending on education and healthcare could lead to further downgrades for U.S. cities in future reports. Globally, Copenhagen took the top spot for liveability, replacing Vienna, while Damascus, Syria, ranked last due to ongoing civil war impacts.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Three Australian cities crack the top ten in new list of world's most liveable locations
Australia has scored three spots on the list of the world's top 10 most liveable cities. The Economist Intelligence Unit released its annual Global Liveability Index on Wednesday with Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide all cracking the top 10. Following analysis of 173 cities across the globe, Copenhagen, Denmark, was awarded the world's most liveable city. It was followed by Vienna, Austria, and Zurich, Switzerland, which tied for second place. Melbourne was crowned the fourth most liveable city in the world. It was previously awarded the prestigious top spot for seven years in a row but was dethroned in 2018. Sydney was ranked the sixth-most liveable city, with Geneva, Switzerland, slipping between it and Melbourne. The last Australian city to feature on the top 10 list was Adelaide in ninth place. The remaining top 10 spots were filled by Osaka, Japan, and Auckland, New Zealand, which tied for seventh; and Vancouver, Canada, in tenth. The EIU ranks cities based on five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Copenhagen's win saw Vienna's three-year stint as the world's most liveable city come to an end. The capital of Denmark received perfect scores for stability, education and infrastructure. Vienna's slip from the top was attributed to its decreased stability rating following a bomb threat which led to the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in August 2024 and planned attack of a city train station in February 2025. Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide all received full marks for healthcare and education. EIU said it's liveability score across the globe had remained the same as 2024 at 76.1 out of 100. However, it noted increased conflict and housing struggles had significantly affected global stability. 'Scores in the stability category have continued to fall amid geopolitical tensions, civil unrest and widespread housing crises,' it said. 'In several west European cities, terrorist attacks and threats, as well as a rising incidence of crime and xenophobia, continue to undermine stability. 'In Tehran (Iran), and cities in Taiwan and India, stability scores have dropped as the threat of military conflict has intensified.' All cities in Canada received lower healthcare scores due to longer waiting periods across the board. The UK also suffered a systematic loss but in the stability category, due to widespread riots and an increase in homelessness. Damascus, Syria, remained the world's least liveable city. 'Despite last year's regime change, Syria's capital city continues to be scarred by years of civil war and has seen no improvement in liveability,' EIU said. The most improved city was awarded to Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, which rose 13 places to 135 due to drastically improved scores for healthcare and education. Calgary, Canada, saw the biggest fall down in rankings from fifth place to 18th.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The 20 Best Cities To Live In The World, According To A 2025 Report
Copenhagen tops the 2025 Global Liveability Index, making it the best city to live in the world. What are the best cities to live in the world? Every year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) sets out to answer that question with its highly anticipated Global Liveability Index, which was just released. The 2025 edition evaluates 173 cities using 30 indicators across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Each city is then given a score out of 100 points, which assesses how comfortable it is to live there. For the first time since 2022—when I began covering the EIU's Global Liveability report—Vienna has lost the top spot. This year, the best city to live in the world is Copenhagen, Denmark. According to the EIU, Copenhagen got perfect scores of 100 in three categories: stability, education and infrastructure. The performance helped it earn a score of 98, edging out Vienna, which scored 97.1. Copenhagen came in second place in both 2024 and 2023. What hurt Vienna? According to the EIU, terrorism scares in 2024 and 2025, caused the city to dip in the stability category. These incidents included a bomb threat that canceled Taylor Swift's summer 2024 concerts and a foiled attack on a train station in early 2025. This year, Vienna ties with Zurich for second place. Zurich was third on the list in 2024 and sixth on the list in 2023. Vienna, Austria is the second best city to live in the world, according to the 2025 Global Liveability Index. Western Europe continues to dominate the list with eight cities in the top 20, plus high scores overall. 'Western Europe remains the best-performing region for liveability, having achieved the top scores in four of the five categories,' wrote the authors of the report. The Asia-Pacific region also does well, with nine cities in the top 20 list—though it also has the widest range, with cities high and low on the list. 'Its most liveable city, Melbourne (Australia), came fourth in the rankings this year, while its least liveable, Dhaka (Bangladesh), came 171st (down three places following the political upheaval in the country in 2024),' wrote the authors of the report. At the bottom of the list is Damascus, Syria, which is once again named the least liveable city in the world. 'Despite last year's regime change, Syria's capital city continues to be scarred by years of civil war and has seen no improvement in liveability,' wrote the authors of the report. The U.S. may have been shut out of the global top 20 again, but that doesn't mean it's all bad news. Honolulu, Hawaii is the top-ranking city for the second year in a row. The city ranks number 23 in the overall list. In second place is Atlanta, Georgia (which ranks 29 overall). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (30 overall), Seattle, Washington (34 overall), and Washington, D.C. (38 overall) rounded out the top five list. Honolulu ranks as the most liveable city in the U.S. in 2025, landing at #23 in the global rankings. U.S. cities perform well in education, getting the highest scores for any region in the world. But the U.S. is hurt by social unrest and gun violence. 'Weak gun-control laws mean that crime is often violent and fatal and undermines social cohesion,' wrote the authors of the report. There is some good news for the U.S.: 14 U.S. cities have moved up the list, including Miami—which went from 47 last year to 44 in this year's overall list. The south Florida city ties with Portland, Oregon for sixth place in the list of top U.S. cities. 'Fourteen of the 21 U.S. cities in our index moved up this year, but mostly because other cities fell,' wrote the authors of the report. When it comes to the biggest cities in the U.S., the results were less impressive: New York ranks 69 overall and Los Angeles comes in at 57. These cities have strong cultural offerings but struggle with poor scores in infrastructure and stability. Looking ahead, the EIU anticipates challenges for the U.S. 'With the Trump administration in the U.S. proposing to cut public spending on education and healthcare, the region remains susceptible to further downgrades in future editions of this report' wrote the authors of the report. So what does this year's report reveal about the state of global liveability?Despite an overall flat average liveability score of 76.1 (unchanged from 2024), this year's findings are mixed. According to the EIU, there's an overall global decline in stability, due to terrorism threats, civil unrest, housing crises and geopolitical tensions. 'Scores in the stability category have continued to fall amid geopolitical tensions, civil unrest and widespread housing crises. In several west European cities, terrorist attacks and threats, as well as a rising incidence of crime and xenophobia, continue to undermine stability,' wrote the authors of the report. Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, made the biggest leap in 2025's Global Liveability Index—rising 13 spots thanks to major gains in healthcare and education under Vision 2030. On the other hand, there were improvements in scores for healthcare, education and infrastructure. Cities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE saw big gains in these categories, helping raise the overall scores for the Middle East and North Africa. One of the biggest movers upward this year is Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, which climbed 13 spots from 148 to 135. 'The Kingdom is investing heavily in improving access to healthcare and education under Vision 2030, a far-reaching economic diversification program intended to reduce the country's reliance on oil,' wrote the authors of the report. Two Asian cities also had notable upward movement: Jakarta rose from 142 to 132, and Bangkok rose from 122 to 116. Some cities saw dramatic drops. Calgary, Canada—which ranked fifth last year—had the biggest drop on the list, falling 13 places to number 18, due to lower healthcare and stability scores. In the U.K., London, Manchester and Edinburgh also slid down the list following unrest and rising crime. Read on for the ranking of the best cities to live around the world and in the U.S. Zurich, Switzerland, ties with Vienna for second place in the 2025 Global Liveability Index. 1. Copenhagen, Denmark 2. Vienna, Austria 2. Zurich, Switzerland (tie) 4. Melbourne, Australia 5. Geneva, Switzerland 6. Sydney, Australia 7. Osaka, Japan (tie) 7. Auckland, New Zealand (tie) 9 Adelaide, Australia 10. Vancouver, Canada 11. Luxembourg 12. Toronto, Canada 13. Helsinki, Finland 14. Tokyo, Japan 15. Perth, Australia 16. Brisbane, Australia 17. Frankfurt, Germany 18. Calgary, Canada 19. Amsterdam, Netherlands 20. Wellington, New Zealand Atlanta, Georgia—the second best city to live in the U.S. in 2025. 1. Honolulu, Hawaii 2. Atlanta, Georgia 3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 4. Seattle, Washington 5. Washington D.C. 6. Miami, Florida (tie) 6. Portland, Oregon (tie) 8. Chicago, Illinois 9. Indianapolis, Indiana (tie) 10. Charlotte, North Carolina (tie)
Herald Sun
3 days ago
- 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
