The best cities to live in the world, Vienna falls from the throne again

It's official. Vienna is no longer the best city to live in the world.

After three consecutive years at the top of the annual list compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the Austrian capital has been overtaken by Copenhagen.

The capital of Denmark has taken first place in the ranking of the best cities to live in the world for 2025.

The EIU ranked 173 cities around the world based on several factors, including healthcare, education, stability, infrastructure and environment.

Copenhagen triumphed after receiving "perfect" ratings for stability, education and infrastructure, while Vienna came in second place, along with the Swiss city of Zurich.

Melbourne, Australia, retained fourth place, while Geneva, Switzerland, ranked fifth on the list.

Just outside the top five, Sydney in Australia made significant progress, moving up from seventh to sixth place. Meanwhile, the Japanese city of Osaka and Auckland in New Zealand share seventh place.

In ninth place is Adelaide, making it the third Australian city in the global top 10. The list closes with Vancouver, Canada, in tenth place.

Decline in ratings for some cities

The report also notes that a number of cities have suffered a decline in their rankings, driven by factors such as social unrest, political tensions, or challenges in the healthcare and infrastructure sectors. These movements reflect dynamic changes in the quality of urban life in a world in constant transformation.

Why did Vienna lose first place this year?

Although Vienna maintained high scores in most categories, it suffered a significant drop in its stability rating – a factor that directly contributed to its loss of first place. In contrast, Copenhagen received high and consistent ratings in all categories.

According to the report, the "sharp and unexpected" drop in Vienna's stability score is attributed to recent events, including a bomb threat during a Taylor Swift concert last summer, which led to the cancellation of the event.

“Global livability has remained unchanged over the past year and, similar to 2024, stability ratings have declined globally,” said Barsali Bhattacharyya, industry sector director at the EIU.

Significant declines for other cities as well

Vienna wasn't the only city to suffer a drop in a category where it had previously excelled. Calgary, which ranked fifth in 2024, fell out of the top 10 this year, dropping to 18th place. The reason? Its lower rating for healthcare, a problem that also affected three other Canadian cities.

Toronto also lost positions in the rankings, dropping from 12th to 16th, for exactly the same reason.

"This reflects the reality of long waiting lists for medical check-ups," Barsali Bhattacharyya of the EIU told CNN Travel.

"There is a shortage of staff in medical centers and hospitals."

The EIU report shows that even cities with a consolidated reputation for quality of life can be hit by unexpected structural challenges – especially in critical sectors like healthcare.

In the United Kingdom, cities such as London, Manchester and Edinburgh have fallen significantly in the rankings due to declining scores in the stability category.

This decline comes after a period of unrest and uncertainty last year, fueled by a disinformation campaign against immigrants, following a knife attack in Southport, northern England.

In this year's list, London fell from 45th to 54th, Manchester from 43rd to 52nd, and Edinburgh from 59th to 64th.

The EIU notes that, as in 2024, stability was the category that experienced deterioration worldwide. Political crises, social tensions and violent incidents are exerting a direct impact on the perception and reality of urban liveability./ Monitor