The 2022 edition of the Global Liveability Index sees the Dutch capital climb a very impressive 21 places in order to secure a spot in the top 10, being named the ninth most liveable city in the world. 

EIU’s Global Liveability Index 2022

The Global Liveability Index, published annually by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), ranks 173 countries around the world according to their overall liveability, taking five key factors into account: healthcare, infrastructure, education, stability, and culture and environment. 

Conducted between February and March of this year, EIU reports that survey scores in the healthcare, education and culture categories increased practically across the board as the coronavirus pandemic came to an end and governments around the world lifted the majority of restrictions. However, the report also notes that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February significantly impacted the liveability scores of a number of Eastern European cities and meant Kyiv had to be excluded from the survey. 

With COVID-19 restrictions disappearing across many countries, EIU observes that the 2022 ranking resembles those from before the pandemic, but emphasises that the global average score remains below pre-pandemic levels. This year, for the third time in the past five years, Vienna has once again claimed the top spot. Western European and Canadian cities dominate the top spots, with two Swiss cities nabbing spots in the top 10, and Frankfurt climbing into seventh place. 

Amsterdam ranked as the ninth most liveable city in the world

The end of COVID-19 restrictions means that this year Amsterdam has climbed from 30th to ninth, with an overall score of 95,3 out of 100. The city achieved scores of over 90 in all five categories, but the clear stand-out was in the healthcare category, where it achieved 100 out of 100. The city’s lowest score - 90 - was in the stability category.

While Amsterdam is the only Dutch city to have secured a spot in the top 10, it isn’t the only one featured in EIU’s report. This year saw Rotterdam make its debut in the Global Liveability Index, and, placing 28th out of the 172 cities included, managed to become the highest-ranked new city.

The most and least liveable cities in the world 

According to EIU’s Global Liveability Index, these cities are the most liveable cities in the world in 2022:

1. Vienna, Austria (99,1) 
2. Copenhagen, Denmark (98,0)
3. Zurich, Switzerland (96,3)
4. Calgary, Canada (96,3)
5. Vancouver, Canada (96,1)
6. Geneva, Switzerland (95,9)
7. Frankfurt, Germany (95,7)
8. Toronto, Canada (95,4)
9. Amsterdam, the Netherlands (95,3)
10. Osaka, Japan (95,1) 
11. Melbourne, Australia (95,1)

The bottom spot in the 2022 ranking is once again occupied by Damascus, with an overall score of just 30,7. For more information about the report, visit the Economist Intelligence Unit’s website.