Vienna loses the title as the most livable city - what now?

Vienna loses the title as the most livable city - what now?

Vienna has in the most recent assessment of the Global Liveability Index 2025 The Economist has lost a place in the rankings and is now in second place, behind Copenhagen. This is the first time in three years that the Austrian capital is no longer in the top position it held for years. Nevertheless, Vienna remains an attractive city in the eyes of many.

The index evaluates a total of 173 cities worldwide and analyzes them using 30 indicators, divided into categories such as healthcare, culture, environment and education. In this analysis, Copenhagen was able to achieve 100 points in the areas of stability, education and infrastructure, thus securing first place. Vienna and Zurich follow closely behind, while other cities such as Melbourne, Geneva, Sydney and Osaka are also included in the ranking, according to information from Cash emerges.

The reason for the relegation

A key element that influenced Vienna's resignation from the throne was a foiled terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert. Such events understandably lead to a different perception of the security situation in the city, which plays a role in the stability assessment of the index. Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) received the news with the attitude that there was "no shame" in sharing the top places with other cities and emphasized that despite everything, Vienna is a place that has a lot to offer.

A look at the Ranking of the most livable cities not only shows that Vienna has lost its former top position, but also that the Mercer ranking already showed a similar development at the end of 2024. The main reason for the loss of this leading position was the tense rental situation, which severely limits the availability of living space for expats.

The competition in international comparison

The overall goal of the Global Liveability Index is not only to determine the most livable city, but also to comprehensively analyze the quality of life worldwide. Vienna has so far managed to position itself as one of the best living environments, but the picture has changed. Copenhagen not only scores with a high quality of life, but also with sustainable urban development and a balanced relationship between leisure and work, which has a decisive influence on the ranking.

The question now arises for the Austrian capital: How will Vienna fare in future rankings? Given the challenges and competition from other cities, exciting times lie ahead.