According to the list published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Melbourne is the best city in which to live. The city, in the southern Australian state of Victoria, has now maintained pole position for five years in a row. There was minimal reshuffle in the top 10 year on year, with all seven of the top cities retaining their 2014 ranking.
Perth and Auckland knocked Helsinki down two pegs from last year’s perch of 8th position. The Finnish capital now shares tenth position with Zurich, Switzerland.
Second on the list is the Austrian capital, Vienna, with third, fourth and fifth positions all taken by Canadian cities – Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, which tied with another southern Australian city, Adelaide.
Sydney and Perth, also Australian cities, came in at seventh and eighth respectively, New Zealand’s Auckland in the ninth spot.
Rich, medium-sized, low-density
According to the EIU’s list, wealthier, medium-sized cities with relatively low population density are the most likely to be livable. Good infrastructure, health care and low homicide rates are also sound indicators of liveability.
Crisis-hit places such as cities in Ukraine, Syria and Libya lay at the bottom of the index. The Syrian capital, Damascus was last on the list of 140 cities.
The Economist bases its rankings on 30 different factors such as security, health care, education and the environment.