Copenhagen is (almost) the worlds’ best city to live in… Again

For the third year running, Danish capital Copenhagen takes second place on the Global Liveability Index. As in previous years the index is published in 2024 by Economist Intelligence Unit which is an affiliate of the public affairs media “the Economist”.

Crowded at the top

Most liveable is Austrias’ Vienna. Copenhagen, Denmark, is number two on the list with a score of 98 against Vienna’s 98,4. Both cities score a perfect hundred points on stability, education and infrastructure, while Vienna scores slightly higher on healthcare (100 against 95,8) and Copenhagen wins on culture and environment. (95,4 against 93,5)

Used by employers as well as employees

The assessment scores 173 cities across the world on 30 indicators divided into five categories:
stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. The aim of the liveability index is to show how comfortable these cities are to live in. Some employers use the index, when they assign hardship allowances in their relocation packages. Some employees use it to decide where they want to live and work.

Europe outperforms the americas

Western Europe remains the best-performing region for liveability, claiming four places in the top ten. Third place on the list went to Switzerland’s Zürich, fourth place to Australia’s Melbourne and fifth to Canada’s Calgary while the top ten was rounded out by Geneva, Sydney, Vancouver, Osaka and Auckland.

A weighted score

The liveability scores are compiled and weighted to provide a score of 1-100, where 1is considered intolerable and 100 is considered ideal.

• Stability levels add up to 25% of the total score. The category looks at the prevalence of petty and of violent crime, threat of terror, of military conflict and of civil unrest or other forms of conflict. Copenhagen scores 100.
• Healthcare levels add up to 20% of the total score. This category examines availability and quality of private and of public healthcare. Availability of over-the-counter drugs and at General healthcare indicators. Copenhagen scores 95,8.
• Culture & Environment weighs 25 percent of the total score. The category explores Humidity/temperature rating, discomfort of climate to travellers, level of corruption, social or religious restrictions, level of censorship, sporting availability, cultural availability and availability of food, drink, and consumer goods & services. Copenhagen scores 95,4.
• Education weighs only ten percent of the total and comprises availability and quality of private education and at public education indicators. Copenhagen scores 100.
• The category Infrastructure weighs 20 percent of the total and looks at quality of road network, of public transport and of international links. It also analyses the availability of good quality housing and quality of energy provision, water provision and of telecommunications. Copenhagen scores 100.