Most Livable Cities in the World

Mark · Mar 14, 2005

Here's a list of the most livable cities in the world, according to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting group's survey, based on multiple criteria.

Rank -- (Last Year's Rank) -- City, Country -- (Points)
01. (01.) Geneva, Switzerland (106.5)
01. (01.) Zurich, Switzerland (106.5)
03. (03.) Vancouver, Canada (106)
03. (03.) Vienna, Austria (106)
05. (05.) Frankfurt, Germany (105.5)
05. (10.) Munich, Germany (105.5)
05. (12.) Dusseldorf, Germany (105.5)
08. (05.) Auckland, New Zealand (105)
08. (05.) Bern, Switzerland (105)
08. (05.) Copenhagen, Denmark (105)
08. (05.) Sydney, Australia (105)
12. (10.) Amsterdam, Netherlands (104.5)
13. (12.) Brussels, Belgium (104)
14. (12.) Melbourne, Australia (103.5)
14. (15.) Berlin, Germany (103.5)
14. (15.) Luxembourg, Luxembourg (103.5)
14. (15.) Stockholm, Sweden (103.5)
14. (15.) Toronto, Canada (103.5)
14. (15.) Wellington, New Zealand (103.5)
20. (20.) Ottawa, Canada (103)
20. (20.) Perth, Australia (103)
22. (20.) Nurnberg, Germany (102.5)
22. (23.) Dublin, Ireland (102.5)
22. (24.) Montreal, Canada (102.5)
25. (24.) Adelaide, Australia (102)
25. (24.) Calgary, Canada (102)
25. (24.) Hamburg, Germany (102)
25. (24.) Helsinki, Finland (102)
25. (24.) Honolulu, United States (102)
25. (24.) San Francisco, United States (102)
31. (24.) Brisbane, Australia (101.5)
31. (32.) Oslo, Norway (101.5)
31. (32.) Paris, France (101.5)
34. (34.) Singapore, Singapore (101)
34. (34.) Tokyo, Japan (101)
36. (36.) Lyon, France (100.5)
36. (36.) Yokohama, Japan (100.5)
36. (42.) Boston, United States (100.5)
39. (36.) London, England (100)
39. (39.) New York, United States (100)
39. (39.) Kobe, Japan (100)
42. (39.) Madrid, Spain (99)
42. (42.) Portland, United States (99)
42. (45.) Barcelona, Spain (99)
42. (52.) Washington, DC (99)
46. (44.) Winston Salem, United States (98.5)
46. (45.) Lexington, United States (98.5)
46. (45.) Osaka, Japan (98.5)
46. (45.) Pittsburgh, United States (98.5)
46. (45.) Seattle, United States (98.5)
51. (50.) Chicago, United States (98)
51. (50.) Milan, Italy (98)
53. (52.) Lisbon, Portugal (97.5)
53. (52.) Nagoya, Japan (97.5)
53. (52.) Tsukuba, Japan (97.5)

Needless to say, Bahgdad was last place, #215.

<div align=center>World-wide quality of life survey</div>

-- Luxembourg scores highest for personal safety and security; Baghdad scores lowest
-- Canadian cities top the rankings for safety and security in North America
-- For overall quality of life, Geneva, and Zurich rank top; Baghdad scores lowest

Luxembourg ranks as the world’s top city for personal safety and security, according to a quality of life survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. The city scores 122.5 followed by Helsinki, Bern, Geneva, and Zurich which take joint second place with scores of 120.

Scores for personal safety and security are based on relationships with other countries, internal stability, and crime, including terrorism. Law enforcement, censorship, and limitations on personal freedom are also taken into account.

Cities are ranked against New York as the base city, which has a rating of 100. The analysis is part of a worldwide quality of life survey, covering 215 cities, to help governments and major companies to place employees on international assignments.

The Japanese cities of Omuta, Kastuyama, Tsukuba, and Yokkaichi score highest in Asia (joint 14th place with scores of 112.5), while Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver rank top in North America, in joint 18th place (score 112).

“The top-ranking cities for personal safety and security are in politically stable countries with good international relations and sustainable economic growth,” said Slagin Parakatil, Senior Researcher at Mercer. “Most of the low-scoring cities are in countries with civil unrest, little law enforcement, and high levels of crime.”

The world’s least secure city is Baghdad (Iraq), with a score of 5 due to ongoing civil unrest and threats of attack in the city. Other low-ranking cities include Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, Bangui in Central African Republic, and Port Harcourt and Lagos in Nigeria , which score 24, 26.5, 32.5, and 32.5 respectively. These countries continue to experience political turmoil and low economic growth.

Western Europe
Many Western European cities appear at the top of the rankings. Luxembourg scores highest for personal safety and security, followed by Swiss and Scandinavian cities. Other high-scoring cities include Vienna, ranked 6th with a score of 116, followed by Düsseldorf, Munich, Nürnberg, Frankfurt, and Oslo, sharing 8th place with scores of 113.

In contrast, Athens, Rome, and London appear at the lower end of the rankings for this region, at positions 83, 74, and 69 respectively (score 93.5, 95.5, and 99), due to high levels of petty crime. Madrid also scores relatively low, sharing 69th position with London, due to terrorism.

Eastern Europe
Cities in Eastern European cities generally rank lower than those in Western Europe. Ljubljana in Slovenia scores highest for personal safety and security, at position 41 with a rating of 105, followed by Bratislava in Slovakia and Prague in the Czech Republic in joint 58th place scoring 100.

“Some Eastern European cities have gained higher scores in the rankings due to their accession to the European Union,” said Mr Parakatil. “There are noticeable differences in personal safety and security scores between many Eastern and Central European cities.”

Russian cities score poorly due to high crime rates, economic turmoil, and lack of internal stability. Moscow, Novosibirsk, Kazan, and St Petersburg take positions 198, 179, 179, and 175 respectively, with scores of 41.5, 52.5, 52.5, and 53.5.

North America
All of the Canadian cities covered by the survey appear in the top 20 rankings for personal safety and security. Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver rank jointly in position 18 with scores of 112.

In the US, Honolulu, Houston, Lexington, San Francisco, and Winston Salem rank highest in joint 45th position with scores of 104. Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Portland, and New York all follow in 58th place with scores of 100. The lowest scoring city in North America is Atlanta, ranked 90 with a score of 90.5, due to street crime and burglary.

In Mexico, Monterrey and Mexico City rank 87 and 126, scoring 92 and 72.5 respectively.

South America
Cities in South America tend to feature much lower in the rankings than those in North America. Growing unemployment and political instability in these regions have led to high crime levels.

Santiago in Chile ranks highest in 94th place with a score of 90. Buenos Aires in Argentina ranks 115 with a score of 77.5, while São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil take 148th and 167th position respectively, with scores of 63.5 and 56. Bogotá and Medellin in Colombia and Caracas in Venezuela rank lowest in positions 210, 205, and 193 respectively (score 33, 37.5, and 48) due to crime including kidnappings.

Mr Parakatil concluded: “As globalisation increases, security and relationships with other countries become more critical to overall quality of life standards in cities across the world.”

Rankings for overall quality of life
Mercer’s overall quality of life survey has revealed that Geneva and Zurich remain the world’s top-scoring cities with 106.5 points. Other high-scoring cities include Vancouver and Vienna in joint 3rd place (score 106).

Cities in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia continue to rank highly. Munich and Düsseldorf both move up the rankings, from 10th and 12th place respectively, to share joint 5th place with Frankfurt. Munich’s rise is due to more efficient waste removal systems and better housing for expatriates, while Düsseldorf’s transport and standards of international schooling have improved. Bern, Copenhagen, and Sydney are pushed down slightly to rank 8 with scores of 105.

In the US, Honolulu and San Francisco rank highest in joint 25th position (score 102), mainly because they have lower crime levels than other US cities. Boston, New York, Portland, and Washington follow in positions 36, 39, 42, and 42 respectively (score 100.5, 100, 99, 99), while Houston ranks lowest at position 68 (score 94).

The analysis was based on an evaluation of 39 quality of life criteria for each city, including political, social, economic, and environmental factors, personal safety and health, education, transport, and other public services.

Baghdad remains the world’s least attractive city for expatriates. Its low score (14.5) is due to the recurrent threat of attacks against people, multinational organisations, and government institutions in the area. Other poor-scoring cities for overall quality of life include Bangui in the Central African Republic (score 29), Brazzaville in Congo, and Khartoum in Sudan (29.5 and 31 respectively).
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Glenn · Mar 14, 2005

The U.S. didn't get into the top 25 on that list. Kinda tells you something...

Ivana · Mar 14, 2005

Originally posted by SaxopianoGRD@Mar 14 2005, 10:36 PM
The U.S. didn't get into the top 25 on that list. Kinda tells you something...
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That's strange...

Ant · Mar 14, 2005

I don't buy into any of those based on the simple fact that Houston's ranked. I lived in Houston for about 7 years (unless I need to work on my math), and it didn't exactly have living conditions that would be considered "average", let alone good.

EDIT: Not sure how I can trust them when they spell "Seattle" wrong, too.

Testament · Mar 14, 2005

Winnipeg-#214

Mark · Mar 14, 2005

Originally posted by Ant@Mar 14 2005, 07:25 PM
I don't buy into any of those based on the simple fact that Houston's ranked. I lived in Houston for about 7 years (unless I need to work on my math), and it didn't exactly have living conditions that would be considered "average", let alone good.

EDIT: Not sure how I can trust them when they spell "Seattle" wrong, too.
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That was my mistake. I typed out a PDF file.

All 215 cities that were tested made it onto the list, so the fact that Houston is ranked is merely the result of them getting tested.

Tomi · Mar 14, 2005

Originally posted by Vanilla T@Mar 14 2005, 05:07 PM
Winnipeg-#214
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Where'd you get this from, Mark?

Link04 · Mar 15, 2005

Interesting.

Maëlle · Mar 15, 2005

SCORE! Montreal went from 24 to 22.

Seriously, it's an interesting analysis.

Ant · Mar 15, 2005

Originally posted by Mark+Mar 14 2005, 11:09 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mark @ Mar 14 2005, 11:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Ant@Mar 14 2005, 07:25 PM
I don't buy into any of those based on the simple fact that Houston's ranked. I lived in Houston for about 7 years (unless I need to work on my math), and it didn't exactly have living conditions that would be considered "average", let alone good.

EDIT: Not sure how I can trust them when they spell "Seattle" wrong, too.
Click to expand...

That was my mistake. I typed out a PDF file.

All 215 cities that were tested made it onto the list, so the fact that Houston is ranked is merely the result of them getting tested. [/b][/quote]
Oh, my mistake.

Having 215 being tested and all making it makes much more sense.

ChooseYourPoison · Mar 15, 2005

New YorK? Chicago? What are they smoking?

Neil · Mar 15, 2005

Why is Toronto higher up than Ottawa. Toronto has more gangs/crime and poverty than Ottawa. Sure, the people here are really fucking stupid and have no common sense, but it's better than homelessness and gangs.

peripeteia · Mar 15, 2005

Singapore - #34

was kind of expecting this, since life here is pretty mad.

Chris · Mar 15, 2005

Amsterdam number 12 B)

Looks like the legal weed is better than Bush That was pretty lame, but who cares

Ashurii · Mar 16, 2005

Originally posted by Mark@Mar 14 2005, 07:20 PM
08. (05.) Auckland, New Zealand (105)
14. (15.) Wellington, New Zealand (103.5)
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Haha.
I used to live in Auckland, I was born there, and lived there for 6 years. That city is full of rapists, drug dealers and the like, they just hide in the shadows

And Wellington? Windiest place in NZ, plus the roads are tiny, windy and steep. Veyr dangerous bus drivers there too.

Though I agree that both of these cities are better than New York.

Jejune · Mar 16, 2005

31. (32.) Oslo, Australia (101.5)
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I've never even heard of that place!

Green_day_88 · Mar 16, 2005

Originally posted by Jejune@Mar 16 2005, 10:04 AM

31. (32.) Oslo, Australia (101.5)
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I've never even heard of that place!
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I think it must be Austria instead of Australia

LPgirl_90 · Mar 16, 2005

Istanbul stinks

Mark · Mar 16, 2005

Originally posted by Jejune@Mar 16 2005, 05:34 AM

31. (32.) Oslo, Australia (101.5)
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I've never even heard of that place!
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My bad. Oslo's in Norway. I looked too high in the column from the PDF file. Fixed.

LPfreaK1852 · Mar 17, 2005

well ........nice chart. I live in NYC and totally agree with the spot it is on the chart

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