World's least liveable cities in 2025 revealed. Pakistan's financial capital makes it to the list

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister organisation to The Economist magazine, on Tuesday released a list of this year’s most and least liveable cities. The think tank ranked 173 cities worldwide for 2025, evaluating them on healthcare, education, stability, infrastructure, and environment

The rankings at the very bottom of the list haven’t changed much in the past year, with Damascus, Syria still ranking as the least liveable in the world six months after the fall of ex-president Bashar al-Assad. Libya’s Tripoli ranked just above it.

Bangladesh's capital Dhaka was third from bottom, while Pakistan’s financial capital, Karachi and Algeria’s Algiers were ranked as the fourth and fifth least liveable cities.


ALSO READ: Copenhagen replaces Vienna as the most liveable city in the world in 2025

While 2024 saw global liveability rise “fractionally,” this certainly hasn’t been the case this year.

Most liveable cities in 2025

Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, has taken the number one spot on the list. Copenhagen triumphed after receiving “perfect” scores for stability, education and infrastructure, while Vienna tied for second place with Swiss city Zurich.

Australia’s Melbourne retained its fourth place spot, while Switzerland’s Geneva was fifth on the list.

Just outside of the top five, Sydney, Australia moved up the list, jumping from joint seventh place to sixth, while Japanese city Osaka and New Zealand’s Auckland tied for seventh place.

ALSO READ: UAE emerges as key alternative for international students with 100% scholarships & global transfers

In ninth place, Adelaide was the third Australian city to make the top 10, while Canada’s Vancouver took the number 10 slot.

Calgary, which took fifth place in 2024, dropped out of the top 10 this year, falling to 18th after receiving a lower healthcare score, along with three fellow Canadian cities, due to a “strain” on the country’s healthcare system.

Honolulu, Hawaii was the highest US city on the list, coming in 23rd place.

List of 10 most liveable cities in the world

1. Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Vienna, Austria
2. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Melbourne, Australia
5. Geneva, Switzerland
6. Sydney, Australia
7. Osaka, Japan
7. Auckland, New Zealand
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Vancouver, Canada