Canada Has 3 Of The World’s 10 Most Livable Cities In 2022
Calgary ranks no. 3 on the 2022 list of the world’s most livable cities – GETTY
Whether you’re considering a big move or simply want to discover a wonderful new city destination on your travels, think about pointing your compass due north this year.
Three Canadian cities landed in the top 10 on the Global Liveability Index, an annual ranking from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that rates 172 cities around the world on over 30 factors, from healthcare, infrastructure, education and crime rates to access to cultural and sports pursuits and green space.
Vienna plucked the top spot from last year’s winner, Auckland, which tumbled from no. 1 to no. 34 this year largely due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
After slipping to 12th place in 2021 while its museums and restaurants were closed, Vienna “has since rebounded to first place, the position it held in 2018 and 2019,” the report said. “Stability and good infrastructure are the city’s main charms for its inhabitants, supported by good healthcare and plenty of opportunities for culture and entertainment.”
Other Western European urban centers in the top 10 include Copenhagen (no. 2), Zurich (no. 3, tie), Geneva (no. 6), Frankfurt (no. 7) and Amsterdam (no. 9) — all outperforming perennial favorites Paris (no. 19), London (no. 33) and Barcelona (no. 35).
Closer to home, the Canadian cities in the 2022 top echelon are Calgary (tied at no. 3 with Zurich), Vancouver (no. 5) and Toronto (no. 8).
No. 5 Vancouver’s stunning waterfront with the North Shore Mountains as a backdrop – GETTY
No U.S. city earned a spot among the top rankings. The biggest movers in the past year are Los Angeles (up 18 places n0. 37) and Houston (down 25 places to no. 56).
Since last year, Oceania has seen the biggest downward swing. Both Australia and New Zealand ranked highly in 2021, when closed borders kept cases of Covid down. “However, this changed as a more infectious Covid-19 wave struck in late 2021, which made closed borders less of a defense,” according to the report.
In 2021, Auckland topped the Global Liveability Index; this year the city has plummeted to 33rd place. Similarly, last year Australia had four cities in the top 10 — Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth — while this year only Melbourne hung on, eking out a tie for 10th place with Osaka, Japan. The other Australian cities fared no better than 27th place.
Kyiv was not assessed this year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Moscow and St Petersburg fell in the rankings over “censorship” and the impact of western sanctions.
No. 8 Toronto is Canada’s largest city, and also one of its most livable – GETTY
Wars, conflicts and terrorism weigh down the ranking’s bottom 10 cities, of which seven are in the Middle East and Africa. Among the least livable cities are Damascus, Syria; Tripoli, Libya; Lagos, Nigeria and Algiers, Algeria.
Looking ahead to next year, the EIU will be keeping an eye on how rising prices around the world affects livability. “This sharp spike in inflation will put quality of life in many cities at risk, particularly if there are also interruptions to food and fuel supplies caused by the war in Ukraine,” said the report. “Either residents will be forced to pay much higher prices (making it harder to enjoy the culture and environment of their cities) or governments will take on more of the burden (which will risk their ability to provide high-quality public services).”
Via Forbes
