July 7, 2026, 9:56 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The British publisher “The Economist Group” has once again released a ranking of the ten most livable cities in the world. TRAVELBOOK presents the ranking and reveals which city takes the top spot.
For many years, the “Global Liveability Index” by the British “Economist” group has been examining which cities are particularly livable. The ranking considers various factors such as the political situation and stability, the healthcare system, social security, and the quality of infrastructure. A total of 173 countries are evaluated based on 30 indicators and then ranked on a 100-point scale. For some of the world’s most livable cities, you don’t have to travel far.
Copenhagen is the most livable city in the world
After 2025, Copenhagen again takes the top spot in 2026. The capital of Denmark triumphed mainly due to its perfect scores in stability, education, and infrastructure. Overall, the city impresses with a total score of 98.0 out of 100 possible points. Following are Vienna, Melbourne, and Sydney, each with 97 points and perfect scores in healthcare and education.
Copenhagen has now beaten Vienna, which previously held the top spot three times in a row, for the second consecutive year. A significant factor in Vienna’s decline in ranking was the stability rating, which has significantly decreased due to certain incidents (including a bomb threat at a Taylor Swift concert in the summer of 2024).
The ongoing success of Copenhagen is attributed to a “successful combination of excellent scores in stability and infrastructure, great culture and environment, and high quality of public services,” explains a spokesperson for the “Economist” group.
Also interesting: 3 German cities are among the happiest in the world
The top 10 most livable cities in the world
As in previous years, no German city made it into the top 10 of the ranking this time either. Overall, three cities in Australia are represented in the top 10, making the country the largest contributor to the ten most livable cities.
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The lowest ranks in the quality of life list are mostly occupied by cities affected by war and/or poverty. Damascus in Syria lands in the last place, although it is noted that recent improvements in healthcare ratings have been significant.
The complete ranking of the 10 most livable cities:
- Copenhagen – Denmark (98)
- Vienna – Austria (97)
- Melbourne – Australia (97)
- Sydney – Australia (97)
- Zurich – Switzerland (96)
- Geneva – Switzerland (96)
- Osaka – Japan (96)
- Adelaide – Australia (96)
- Vancouver – Canada (96)
- Tokyo – Japan (96)