Copenhagen takes over the throne: Vienna is no longer number 1!

Copenhagen takes over the throne: Vienna is no longer number 1!

Vienna, once the undisputed number one among the most livable cities in the world, has suffered a bitter defeat in the current ranking of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Copenhagen moved into first place and was able to shine with a top score of 100 points in the categories of stability, education and infrastructure. While Vienna previously had first place three times in a row, the city now has to settle for second place. This reports stern.de.

The ranking is part of the Global Liveability Index 2025, which gives a total of 173 cities a comprehensive rating. The index takes into account 30 different indicators, ranging from healthcare to culture to the environment. Vienna is followed in the ranking by the two Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva as well as the Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney. Osaka, Auckland and Vancouver can also hold their own in this international comparison.

Copenhagen is particularly strong in many areas

Copenhagen, which is now in first place, not only has the best scores in stability, education and infrastructure, but also scores with a balanced relationship between leisure and work and progressive urban development. These features have made the Danish capital an absolute favorite, according to analysis by Time.

In contrast, Vienna no longer seems to be able to meet the highest standards in terms of quality of life. Nevertheless, the city remains a popular destination with a high quality of life and continues to be valued by many. Interestingly, Vienna and Zurich share the same overall values ​​in the index, which constantly increases competition between these cities.

The last places and the context of the ranking

The ranking also shows that not all cities are blessed with equally high living conditions. Kiev only occupies 165th place, while the very bottom ranks are occupied by cities such as Damascus, Tripoli, Dhaka, Karachi and Algiers. These results highlight the large differences in global quality of life captured by the EIU index.

Finally, there is some interesting context to the rankings. The Global Liveability Index is based not only on the EIU study, but also on the Mercer study and the Numbeo Quality of Life Index. These studies analyze racial factors that are important to people living and working in different cities. Cities like Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg are also represented, but in comparison, German cities tend to decline in terms of quality of life. High-priced real estate and rising costs of living don't necessarily make life in these cities easier, according to an analysis by The investment.