Copenhagen named world's most livable city for second year; Gulf cities fall in rankings

Copenhagen has once again earned the title of the world's most livable city, retaining its top spot in the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index for 2026. The Danish capital achieved perfect scores in stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, solidifying its reputation.

While Copenhagen leads, the index also highlights a significant downturn for cities in the Persian Gulf. Once popular with foreign professionals and wealthy expatriates for their low taxes, modern infrastructure, and amenities, cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Muscat have fallen in the rankings. This decline is attributed to a perceived decrease in safety, exacerbated by the war in Iran and spreading regional instability.

The EIU's index evaluates 173 cities worldwide using over 30 indicators across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Originally designed as a tool for companies to determine cost-of-living allowances for employees abroad, the index provides a comprehensive view of urban living conditions. The global average score remained stable at 76.1 out of 100, but this masked considerable regional variations.

Following Copenhagen, Vienna and Melbourne secured the second and third positions, respectively. Australian cities Sydney and Adelaide also featured prominently in the top ranks. European and Australian cities continue to dominate the upper echelons of the list, with Swiss cities Zurich and Geneva also climbing the rankings. Vancouver remains the sole North American city in the top ten, while Tokyo entered the top ten for the first time.

Large cities often face challenges such as traffic congestion, strained infrastructure, and crime, which can impact their liveability scores. However, the most notable shift this year is the decline in the Middle East and North Africa region, which saw its average score drop by one point, largely due to security concerns linked to the conflict in Iran. Muscat experienced the steepest fall among all cities assessed.