Vienna took second place in the ranking, and Zurich took third.
The Danish capital, Copenhagen, which is considered one of the most expensive destinations in Europe, has been recognized as the most livable city in the world.
This conclusion was reached by analysts of the Economist Intelligence Unit in their annual report on the Global Livability Index, in which 173 cities participated. They were evaluated in five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and the environment, education and infrastructure. This report collects data collected between April 14 and May 11, 2025, writes Business Insider.
In particular, Copenhagen received the top three scores for stability, education, and infrastructure. Known for its canals, architecture, and cycling-friendly culture, the Danish city scored 98 out of 100 according to the report’s index.
Meanwhile, the Austrian capital, Vienna, has fallen to second place after a three-year reign at the top of the list. This is due to an increase in security threats, which have led to a five-point drop in the city’s stability rating.
In general, Western Europe dominates the top five, and cities in the Asia-Pacific region also made it into the top ten. However, the only North American city in the top ten was Vancouver, Canada.
At the same time, despite the fact that many cities have seen improvements in their health, education, and infrastructure scores, the trend of global instability and civil unrest has resulted in an average score of 76.1 out of 100 for livability.
“Global livability has remained flat over the past year, and as in 2024, stability scores have declined globally. As in 2024, stability scores declined for Western Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. In this release, they also declined for Asia amid increased threats of military conflict for cities in India and Taiwan,” explained Barsali Bhattacharya, Deputy Director of Industry at the EIU.
At the same time, stability, measured based on the prevalence of crime, terrorist threats, military conflicts, and civil unrest, prevented US cities from making it into the top 20. The Hawaiian capital of Honolulu ranked highest, taking the 23rd spot.
“The main reason is the higher level of social unrest, which is often rooted in the country’s racial inequality, as well as weak gun control laws, which often lead to violent and deadly crimes,” the EIU said in a press release.
At the same time, the biggest growth this year was in Al-Khobar (Saudi Arabia), which rose 13 positions, and Jakarta (Indonesia), which rose 10 positions.
The 10 Most Livable Cities in the World in 2025
- Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Vienna, Austria.
- Zurich, Switzerland.
- Melbourne, Australia.
- Geneva, Switzerland.
- Sydney, Australia.
- Osaka, Japan.
- Auckland, New Zealand.
- Adelaide, Australia.
- Vancouver, Canada.
