Karachi ranked among world's least liveable cities

Karachi has been ranked among the world's least liveable cities, securing the 170th position out of 173 on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) annual Global Liveability Index for 2026. Only Dhaka, Tripoli, and Damascus were ranked lower, while Tehran and Kyiv scored slightly higher.

The EIU's index evaluates living conditions across cities globally, measuring indicators such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Karachi received an overall score of 43 out of 100, matching Algiers. The city performed poorly in nearly all categories, scoring only 20 for stability, 36 for culture and environment, and 52 for infrastructure. Healthcare scored 54, while education was the sole area of relative strength with a score of 75.

Issues like congested roads and crime tend to negatively impact the scores of major cities, according to the EIU. The ranking highlights the significant challenges individuals face in their daily lives within Karachi.

The report also noted a decline in liveability for several Middle Eastern cities impacted by the US-Iran conflict. Muscat fell 14 places to 123rd, the largest drop recorded. Doha slipped seven spots to 108th, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi each dropped four places to 79th and 76th, respectively. In contrast, Copenhagen retained its top position as the most liveable city, followed by Vienna and Melbourne.