The world′s 10 most livable cities in 2019 | All media content | DW | 03.09.2019

We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration.

More info OK
  1. Inhalt
  2. Navigation
  3. Weitere Inhalte
  4. Metanavigation
  5. Suche
  6. Choose from 30 Languages

Environment

The world's 10 most livable cities in 2019

Vienna remains the most livable city for 2019 out of 140 surveyed by The Economist Intelligence Unit. Cities are assessed for stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

  • Sunset over rooftops in Vienna (Bob Berwyn)

    1. Vienna, Austria

    With an overall rating of 99.1 out of a possible 100, Vienna has been named the most livable city in the world for the second year in a row. The Austrian capital has consistently scored high in similar surveys, with human resource consulting firm Mercer also ranking Vienna first in its Quality of Living Survey every year for a decade (2009 - 2019).

  • A view of Melbourne city skyline (Fotolia/peshkov)

    2. Melbourne, Australia

    Before being beaten by Vienna in 2018, Melbourne topped the "Global Liveability Index" list for seven years running. With a score of 98.4 in 2019, it has once again fallen just short of the top spot, but still achieved scores of 100 in healthcare, education and infrastructure. Thanks to its thriving arts scene, Melbourne is often dubbed Australia's cultural capital.

  • The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at sunset (picture alliance/dpa/robertharding)

    3. Sydney, Australia

    According to The Economic Intelligence Unit, Sydney has risen from fifth to third place this year owing to renewed efforts towards tackling the impacts of climate change, improving its culture and environment score. But Australia's most populous city still remains one spot behind its rival, Melbourne.

  • The skyline of Osaka city in Japan (Getty Images/UIG/Dukas)

    4. Osaka, Japan

    Osaka dropped from third to fourth place this year — but it didn't make it into the top 10 until 2018, following a decline in crime rates and an overall improvement in the quality of transportation. The port city is one of Japan's economic powerhouses and is the second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo.

  • The Calgary skyline as seen from the top of Calgary Tower (picture-alliance/blickwinkel/M. Lohmann)

    5. Calgary, Canada

    Although it dropped from fourth to fifth in this year's survey, Calgary remains the most livable city in North America, beating out its other Canadian rivals, Vancouver and Toronto. Home to 1.3 million people, Calgary is often recognized for its high quality of life.

  • The Vancouver skyline with snow capped mountains in the background (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

    6. Vancouver, Canada

    Vancouver was previously ranked the most livable city from 2002 to 2010, and again in 2015. Despite falling a few spots, British Columbia's most populous city still boasts a very high livability score of 97.3 — including perfect scores in healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

  • Toronto downtown skyline at sunset, (picture alliance/All Canada Photos)

    7. Toronto, Canada

    Toronto rounds out the North American cities included on the list with an overall livability score of 97.2. Canada's most populous city has also been named the most multicultural contemporary city in the world. 51% of its residents were born outside of Canada and it is home to over 230 different nationalities.

  • Japan's highest mountain, Mount Fuji (C) is seen behind the skyline of the Shinjuku area of Tokyo (Getty Images/AFP/K. Nogi)

    8. Tokyo, Japan

    In the lead-up to the 2020 Summer Olympics, host city Tokyo has undergone a rapid transformation, no doubt contributing to its score of 97.2. Tokyo is also known for being one of the safest cities in the world and is popular with tourists looking to experience both the ultramodern and the traditional in one bustling metropolis.

  • The Nyhavn district as seen from Copenhagen’s harbour (Morten Jerichau/Wonderful Copenhagen)

    9. Copenhagen, Denmark

    Copenhagen is the only other European city included in the top ten livable cities list after Vienna. Despite the relatively high cost of living, Denmark's capital offers excellent infrastructure and healthcare. It also hopes to become the world's most cycle-friendly city, with authorities aiming to increase the percentage of commuters who travel by bicycle to 50% by 2025.

  • A view of Adelaide city and the River Torrens. (Getty Images/M. de Klerk)

    10. Adelaide, Australia

    Finally, Adelaide brings the total number of Australian cities included in the top 10 to three. With a population of 1.3 million, the so-called City of Churches is smaller than its higher-ranked counterparts, but is becoming increasingly known for its world-class wineries, pristine beaches and growing foodie scene.


  • Sunset over rooftops in Vienna (Bob Berwyn)

    1. Vienna, Austria

    With an overall rating of 99.1 out of a possible 100, Vienna has been named the most livable city in the world for the second year in a row. The Austrian capital has consistently scored high in similar surveys, with human resource consulting firm Mercer also ranking Vienna first in its Quality of Living Survey every year for a decade (2009 - 2019).

  • A view of Melbourne city skyline (Fotolia/peshkov)

    2. Melbourne, Australia

    Before being beaten by Vienna in 2018, Melbourne topped the "Global Liveability Index" list for seven years running. With a score of 98.4 in 2019, it has once again fallen just short of the top spot, but still achieved scores of 100 in healthcare, education and infrastructure. Thanks to its thriving arts scene, Melbourne is often dubbed Australia's cultural capital.

  • The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at sunset (picture alliance/dpa/robertharding)

    3. Sydney, Australia

    According to The Economic Intelligence Unit, Sydney has risen from fifth to third place this year owing to renewed efforts towards tackling the impacts of climate change, improving its culture and environment score. But Australia's most populous city still remains one spot behind its rival, Melbourne.

  • The skyline of Osaka city in Japan (Getty Images/UIG/Dukas)

    4. Osaka, Japan

    Osaka dropped from third to fourth place this year — but it didn't make it into the top 10 until 2018, following a decline in crime rates and an overall improvement in the quality of transportation. The port city is one of Japan's economic powerhouses and is the second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo.

  • The Calgary skyline as seen from the top of Calgary Tower (picture-alliance/blickwinkel/M. Lohmann)

    5. Calgary, Canada

    Although it dropped from fourth to fifth in this year's survey, Calgary remains the most livable city in North America, beating out its other Canadian rivals, Vancouver and Toronto. Home to 1.3 million people, Calgary is often recognized for its high quality of life.

  • The Vancouver skyline with snow capped mountains in the background (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

    6. Vancouver, Canada

    Vancouver was previously ranked the most livable city from 2002 to 2010, and again in 2015. Despite falling a few spots, British Columbia's most populous city still boasts a very high livability score of 97.3 — including perfect scores in healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

  • Toronto downtown skyline at sunset, (picture alliance/All Canada Photos)

    7. Toronto, Canada

    Toronto rounds out the North American cities included on the list with an overall livability score of 97.2. Canada's most populous city has also been named the most multicultural contemporary city in the world. 51% of its residents were born outside of Canada and it is home to over 230 different nationalities.

  • Japan's highest mountain, Mount Fuji (C) is seen behind the skyline of the Shinjuku area of Tokyo (Getty Images/AFP/K. Nogi)

    8. Tokyo, Japan

    In the lead-up to the 2020 Summer Olympics, host city Tokyo has undergone a rapid transformation, no doubt contributing to its score of 97.2. Tokyo is also known for being one of the safest cities in the world and is popular with tourists looking to experience both the ultramodern and the traditional in one bustling metropolis.

  • The Nyhavn district as seen from Copenhagen’s harbour (Morten Jerichau/Wonderful Copenhagen)

    9. Copenhagen, Denmark

    Copenhagen is the only other European city included in the top ten livable cities list after Vienna. Despite the relatively high cost of living, Denmark's capital offers excellent infrastructure and healthcare. It also hopes to become the world's most cycle-friendly city, with authorities aiming to increase the percentage of commuters who travel by bicycle to 50% by 2025.

  • A view of Adelaide city and the River Torrens. (Getty Images/M. de Klerk)

    10. Adelaide, Australia

    Finally, Adelaide brings the total number of Australian cities included in the top 10 to three. With a population of 1.3 million, the so-called City of Churches is smaller than its higher-ranked counterparts, but is becoming increasingly known for its world-class wineries, pristine beaches and growing foodie scene.


More in the Media Center

DW Dokumentationen WikiLeaks - Staatsfeind Julian Assange

WikiLeaks - Public Enemy Julian Assange 25.02.2020

DW Dokus KW 48

Poverty in the USA 26.11.2019

Filmstill Dokumentation | Streit um ETA-Häftlinge

DocFilm - The Row over ETA Prisoners - A Difficult Reconciliation in the Basque Country 10.08.2019

USA Pamela Paquin verwertet Felle von überfahrenen Tieren

A hairy idea - Using roadkill for fashion 27.04.2019

Read also

BdT Angeln im Dunkeln

Five German cities among 30 most livable in the world: Economist Intelligence Unit 14.08.2018

Vienna has been ranked as the most livable city in the world for the first time, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit global survey. Five German cities, including Frankfurt, have ranked in the top 30.

Bild des Tages 15.04.2015 Frühling in München

Munich tops list of world's most livable cities, Berlin and Hamburg also in top 10 01.07.2018

The annual ranking put out by the British magazine Monocle also placed Dusseldorf in the top 20. Tokyo came in second. No US city made the top 25, with picturesque Vancouver the only North American city in the mix.