World’s best city to live in: US has ZERO city in Top 10 list, another country has 3

In a world where chaos feels increasingly close to home, the idea of a “most liveable city” carries new weight. Whether it’s healthcare, education, culture, or just the peace of being able to walk down the street without fear, where we live shapes how we live. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released its 2025 Global Liveability Index, and the results are telling. Not a single U.S. city has cracked the Top 10, while countries like Australia and Switzerland have multiple entries, reaffirming the global shift in urban quality of life.

As per The Economist, at the top of the list is Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, which has dethroned Vienna after two years. Though Vienna was long considered untouchable, recent foiled terrorist attacks—including one at a Taylor Swift concert—lowered its stability score, allowing Copenhagen to edge ahead. Vienna now shares second place with Zurich, while Melbourne, Geneva, and Sydney follow closely. The Top 10 paints a clear picture: smaller, well-managed cities with high stability and efficient infrastructure are leading the way.

Here’s the complete Top 10 list according to EIU:


1. Copenhagen, Denmark

2. Vienna, Austria

3. Zurich, Switzerland

4. Melbourne, Australia

5. Geneva, Switzerland

6. Sydney, Australia

7. Osaka, Japan

8. Auckland, New Zealand

9. Adelaide, Australia

10. Vancouver, Canada

What are the rankings based on?

The rankings are based on five key categories: healthcare, education, stability, culture and environment, and infrastructure. While healthcare and education scores remain relatively consistent, it is stability—impacted by geopolitical unrest, terrorism, and civil conflict—that has shifted the rankings for many cities. Notably, Copenhagen was one of only six cities to earn a perfect stability score this year. Australia has three cities, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, in the top 10 liveable cities in the world.

In Asia, cities in East Asia and Australasia continue to perform well, with half of the top 20 hailing from the region. However, South Asian cities remain far behind, grappling with pollution, overcrowding, and rising temperatures. In India and Pakistan, border tensions and instability further dented scores.