Many dream of moving abroad to destinations that offer a better quality of life, bustling cities full of opportunities and great healthcare.But, where exactly should one head for days propelled by good public transport, great dining out options, and safety on the streets? A new report has revealed the most ‘liveable’ cities around the world – and the recent conflict in the Middle East seems to have made a serious impact on usually popular destinations. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index analyses 173 cities globally, based on 30 discrete indicators across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure, to produce an overall liveability score. Overall, the top ten cities are all found in ‘wealthy countries’, according to the report, with Australia standing out in particular, bagging three places. Here we look at the top 10 most ‘liveable’ cities in the world – as well as those that have seen a surprising uptick in rank, or fallen far down the ladder.1. Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen, in Denmark, has been named as the most liveable city in the world by the EIU’s Global Liveability IndexCopenhagen, in Denmark, has been named as the most liveable city in the world by the index. The colourful capital scores a near-perfect 98 out of 100, topping the list of 173 cities. Hordes of visitors head to Copenhagen for a weekend break or holiday each year, hoping to experience its impressive architecture and check out landmarks like the fairytale-like Tivoli Gardens.But, it seems the city could be pleasant to stay more permanently, too. It scores an impressive 100 out of 100 for stability, infrastructure and education, while the city’s healthcare and culture and environment were rated 96 and 95 out of 100, respectively.2. Vienna, Austria Vienna, in Austria, takes second place with an impressive score of 97 out of 100Austria’s capital, Vienna, follows closely in second place, scoring 97 out of 100. The city bagged strong scores of 100 for healthcare, infrastructure and education. Meanwhile, it was rated 95 out of 100 for stability, and 94 for culture and environment. Vienna was named the world’s most liveable city back in 2022, and held the title for three years in a row, before ceding its crown to Copenhagen.Residents are treated to a rich, fascinating history with a range of palaces to visit, and a strong musical heritage. Indeed, once home to classical music legends such as Mozart and Beethoven, the Austrian capital is often referred to as the City of Music.3. Melbourne, Australia Melbourne, in Australia, places third with its world-class healthcare and impressive educationThink skyscrapers, a great food scene and plenty of green space – tied together with a relaxed, Aussie culture and lifestyle. Melbourne ranks third overall in this year’s global ranking, and shines on account of its world-class healthcare and impressive education – earning scores of 100 out of 100 in these categories. The Australian city boasts an overall score of 97, with a stability rating of 95, and 96 for culture, environment and infrastructure. 4. Sydney, Australia Another Australian city, Sydney, follows in fourth place – again impressing with its healthcare and education Bringing another Australian city into the top ten, Sydney ranks fourth with a score of 97 out of 100.Healthcare and education in Sydney are particularly strong categories, both rating 100.Infrastructure scores 96, while the stability and culture and environment categories bag 95 and 94 respectively. The city boasts good weather, a high standard of living and amazing beaches – for some, living here is an absolute no-brainer.5. Zurich, Switzerland Bringing Switzerland into the mix, Zurich ranks fifth overallIntroducing Switzerland to the top ten, Zurich ranks fifth and scores 96 out of 100 overall. The city boasts a range of architecture – from Romanesque-style churches to more urban designs. It’s a great place to live for other factors too, and receives top ratings for its education and healthcare.Zurich also scores 96 for its infrastructure, 95 for stability, and 94 for culture and environment.6. Geneva, Switzerland Geneva, another city in Switzerland, places sixth and scores 96 out of 100Another Swiss city featuring in the top 10, Geneva ranks sixth for liveability scoring 96 out of 100.Its healthcare and education both bagged scores of 100. Meanwhile, Geneva’s infrastructure was rated 96, its stability 95 and its culture and environment 92.Located in the southwestern region of Romandy, in Switzerland, the city is French-speaking, and offers its residents crystal-clear waters, fantastic scenery and fine wine. 7. Osaka, Japan Japan makes the top 10 too, and Osaka places seventh in the reportOsaka, in Japan, is the first Asian city to make the top 10, landing in seventh place in the index. Known as a more budget-friendly alternative to Japan’s capital, Tokyo, Osaka has plenty to offer, and is known for its laid-back population and excellent food scene.It scores 100 out of 100 for stability, healthcare and education – the first of the top seven to do so. Meanwhile, the city’s infrastructure is rated 96, with its culture and environment ranked slightly lower, at 87 out of 100.8. Adelaide, Australia Adelaide is Australia’s third city to make the top 10 and scores 96 out of 100Australia’s third and final contender in the top 10 is Adelaide, located in South Australia. With an overall score of 96 out of 100, the city is a great spot for those who want to live somewhere vibrant and cosmopolitan, while also being nearby the sea. Adelaide’s healthcare and education score 100, while its infrastructure bags 96, stability 95 and culture and environment 91. 9. Vancouver, Canada The lush and mountainous city of Vancouver, in Canada, ranks ninthKnown for its natural landscapes, impressive mountain ranges and dense forests, Vancouver places ninth in this year’s list.The Canadian city scores 96 out of 100, and particularly impresses with its education, which bagged 100 points. Its culture and environment scored the highest out of the top 10 – at 97. Meanwhile, its healthcare scored 96 and its stability 95.10. Tokyo, Japan Japan’s second city in the top 10, Tokyo finishes off the top 10One of the biggest cities in the world, Japan’s capital Tokyo rounds off the top 10 with a score of 96 out of 100.Like its other Japanese counterpart, it bags perfect ratings for stability, healthcare and education. Meanwhile, its culture and environment scores 89, and infrastructure 93. The city is highly regarded globally for its infallible transportation system, safety and great dining and retail options. Elsewhere…Middle Eastern and North African countries have felt the hit of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran – with an average of a one-point decline in the liveability scores for cities in the region.Indeed, despite its usual popularity with expats, Dubai saw its rank in the report fall four places, to 79th.The glitzy city’s index score declined by three points to 80 out of 100 – although this ranking still placed it above the overall average of 76.1.Abu Dhabi, another destination typically favoured particularly by British expats, saw the same decline, and dropped to 76th and an index score of 81 out of 100. The cities that took the biggest hit in the region, however, were Muscat and Kuwait City.They fell by 14 and 12 places respectively, ranking 123rd and 105th out of 173. However, there have been improvements in some categories across the region – particularly in healthcare scores. Meanwhile, despite being popular with expats, Dubai saw its rank in the report fall four places to 79thWestern Europe is identified as the strongest region overall for liveability, although Asia is a strong contender, with its average score rising while Western Europe’s has remained ‘stagnant’.Among the top 20 cities, Asia takes up nine of them and Europe bags seven.Out of the ‘biggest movers up’ – the cities that increased their ranks the most in the index – China dominated with 10 out of 15. Fuzhou, in southeastern China, moved the most, gaining seven places in the rankings to 83rd, improving its index score by one to 75 out of 100.Wuxi, Nanjing, Zhuhai, Qingdao, Shenyang, Dalian, Xian, Chongqing and Guangzhou are other Chinese cities to also improve their ranks. Japan’s capital, Tokyo, also moved up by three ranks and the overall improvements led to a 0.3-point increase in average scores for Asian cities in the index. Asia is now the most improved region in the index for 2026, with an average score of 73.9 – placing it just ahead of eastern Europe. Lisbon was also named the second-biggest mover in rankings, improving by six places to 54 overall. This shift is not as surprising, as Brits seem to be flocking to Portugal as a permanent place to live. The number of UK nationals residing in the popular European destination almost trebled between 2014 and 2024. Fuzhou, in southeastern China, moved the most and gained seven places in the rankings to 83rdAccording to figures from Portugal’s immigration authority AIMA back in 2014, there were 16,559 Brits living in the country in 2014. In 2024, this jumped to a whopping 48,238 UK residents. The bottom ten positions have nearly all been impacted by war or poverty, or both, and score low for stability.Damascus, in Syria, ranks the worst as it recovers from a civil war, while Tripoli and Dhaka rank 172nd and 171st respectively. The top 10 cities in the EIU’s Global Liveability Index Copenhagen, DenmarkVienna, AustriaMelbourne, AustraliaSydney, AustraliaZurich, SwitzerlandGeneva, SwitzerlandOsaka, JapanAdelaide, AustraliaVancouver, CanadaTokyo, Japan