Vienna loses the title: Copenhagen is now the most livable city!

Vienna loses the title: Copenhagen is now the most livable city!

Vienna has suffered a significant setback in the latest ranking of the world's most livable cities. According to the Economist, the Austrian capital had to give up its long-standing first place in the Global Liveability Index 2025 and slipped to second place. This award, created by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), evaluates 173 cities worldwide based on 30 factors, including stability, education, infrastructure, healthcare, culture and environment.

Copenhagen now takes first place in the ranking, replacing Vienna after top placement three times. Copenhagen was able to achieve a top score of 100 points in the areas of stability, education and infrastructure, which contributes to its victory. In addition to Vienna, Zurich and the Danish capital now share first place and are leaders in terms of quality of life.

The ranking in detail

The ranking behind Vienna and Zurich is followed by Melbourne (Australia) and Geneva (Switzerland). In a broader view of quality of life, other cities such as Sydney (Australia), Osaka (Japan) and Vancouver (Canada) are also at the top of the list. On the other hand, Kiev (Ukraine) ranks a disappointing 165th, while countries such as Syria, Libya and Bangladesh occupy the last positions.

• Top 10 des Rankings:
  • Kopenhagen
  • Wien
  • Zürich
  • Melbourne
  • Genf
  • Sydney
  • Osaka
  • Auckland
  • Adelaide
  • Vancouver
• Letzte Plätze im Ranking:
  • 165. Kiew (Ukraine)
  • 166. Tripolis (Libyen)
  • 167. Dhaka (Bangladesch)
  • 168. Karachi (Pakistan)
  • 169. Algier (Algerien)

In comparison, Vienna has been one of the top performers in the Global Liveability Index several times in the past. It was the first time in seven years that the city had been named the most livable city when it topped The Economist's rankings, displacing Melbourne in a significant high point. The reasons for the high quality of life in Vienna include, above all, the low crime rate and the reduced risk of attacks in Western Europe, as Marktmeinung Mensch reports.

The general context of the rankings

The DI ratings are based on three main studies that examine various quality of life factors. The Mercer ranking is evaluated in 10 categories and includes 39 criteria that are relevant for internationally active companies. In contrast, the Numbeo Quality of Life Index contains user-generated data on the cost of living and quality of living. While German cities like Frankfurt am Main and Munich are in the rankings, there is an overall decline in the quality of life in Germany, especially in cities like Munich and Hamburg.

Developments in the impact of quality of life and urban planning highlight the challenges facing many global cities. Copenhagen in particular is highlighted as an example of sustainable urban development and work-life balance, while the US is largely absent from the top 25 due to social inequality and high healthcare costs.