Copenhagen has once again been named the world's most livable city, taking the top spot ahead of Vienna in this year's ranking. But what makes the Danish capital stand out? Falstaff TRAVEL takes a closer look at the factors behind the results and the cities that performed best.
Where in the world is the best place to live? According to the latest“Global Liveability Index 2026”from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Copenhagen remains the most livable city in the world. Vienna and Melbourne follow, while Zurich also makes it into the top 5. German cities, on the other hand, do not feature at the top of the rankings.
For the annual ranking, 173 cities were evaluated based on 30 indicators across five categories: stability, healthcare, education, culture, and the environment, as well as infrastructure. The index serves as a guide for companies worldwide in calculating so-called hardship allowances for employees working abroad.
The Danish capital stands out above all for its consistently strong performance in nearly every area. Copenhagen scores particularly high in the areas of stability, education, and infrastructure, thereby defending the top spot it had taken from Vienna the previous year. The Austrian capital has once again taken second place.
Vienna had topped the ranking several times between 2018 and 2024, but lost the top spot to Copenhagen last year. The main deciding factor was a lower rating in the area of stability. The EIU cites, among other things, the attack plans that have come to light targeting a Taylor Swift concert in the summer of 2024 as a reason for this.
Europe continues to dominate the rankings. In addition to Copenhagen and Vienna, Zurich (ranked 5) and Geneva (place 6) among the ten most livable cities in the world. German cities, however, do not make the top ten in the Global Liveability Index. Frankfurt am Main last achieved this in 2022.
Australia is represented three times: Melbourne (3rd place), Sydney (4th place), and Adelaide (8th place). Vancouver is the only North American city among the top contenders. Also noteworthy is Japan’s presence with Osaka (7th place) and, not least, Tokyo (10th place). With a population of approximately 33.4 million, the Japanese capital is the only megacity in the top ten. Large cities often rank lower on the index because factors such as traffic congestion, high population density, or crime can negatively affect their scores.
At the other end of the rankings, Damascus once again remains the least livable city in the world. The sharpest declines this year were recorded in cities in the Near and Middle East, which are suffering from the effects of ongoing conflicts. At the same time, several Chinese cities were able to improve their rankings, thanks in particular to investments in the healthcare system and better medical care for the population.
1. Copenhagen, Denmark, overall score: 98 points
2. Vienna, Austria, 97 points
3. Melbourne, Australia, 97 points
4. Sydney, Australia, 97 points
5. Zurich, Switzerland, 96 points
6. Geneva, Switzerland, 96 points
7. Osaka, Japan, 96 points
8. Adelaide, Australia, 96 points
9. Vancouver, Canada, 96 points
10. Tokyo, Japan, 96 points
