In what has become an annual study, the Economist's Intelligence Unit has revealed what they have determined to be the most livable cities in the world, as well the least livable. The study is carried out by examining and rating six major criteria: stability, healtcare, culture & environment, education and infrastructure.
At the top of the rankings, the EIU list remains stable with an indentical top ten compared to 2012. Melbourne is at the very top of the list, followed closely by Vienna and Vancouver. Australia enjoys four positions on the top ten, with Canada just behind with three. The top-ranked cites all fare particularly well in terms of healthcare, education and stablility (which also encompasses crime rates).
Going down the list, however, there have been some major changes compared to last year. Damascus is now bottom of the list as a result of the ongoing instablity in Syria. Many cities affected by the Arab Spring have also seen ranking changes. The report also points out decreases in livability in many Chinese cities as a result of tension with Japan, labour disputes and a "heightened threat of civil unrest".
The EIU list has proven controversial in the past, with the likes of the New York Times criticising the report for being 'anglocentric' given the dominance of English speaking cities. New Geography's Joel Kotkin argues such a ranking system cannot accurately determine 'great' cities, observing "ultimately great cities remain, almost by necessity, raw (and at times unpleasant) places. They are filled with the sights and smells of diverse cultures... they all suffer the social tensions that come with rapid change and massive migration".
The EIU 10 Most Livable Cities
1. Melbourne
2. Vienna
3. Vancouver
4. Toronto
5. Calgary
5. Adelaide
7. Sydney
8. Helsinki
9. Perth
10. Auckland
The EIU 10 Least Livable Cities
131. Tehran
132. Douala
133. Tripoli
134. Karachi
135. Algiers
136. Harare
137. Lagos
138. Port Moresby
139. Dhaka
140. Damascus
Photo: Wikmedia Commons / Dilif
