Key Takeaways:
- The EIU’s 2024 report ranks cities based on stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure.
- Calgary tops Canadian cities in fifth place; Vancouver is seventh; Toronto drops out of the top 10 to 12th.
- High-ranking cities attract immigrants due to better living standards, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
What Makes a City the Most Livable in the World?
The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) has recently unveiled the 2024 report of the world’s most livable cities. This annual assessment dives into criteria such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure to produce the Global Livability Ranking. Notably, two Canadian cities, Calgary and Vancouver, have been recognized prominently, although Toronto, for the first time in three years, has fallen out of the top 10.
How Did Canadian Cities Rank in 2024?
In 2024, Calgary climbed up to fifth place, tying with Geneva, Switzerland. This ranking is a shift from the previous year when Calgary was placed seventh. Vancouver, which held the fifth spot in 2023, moved down to seventh in the global ranking. However, Toronto’s drop to 12th place marks the first time since 2021 that this city isn’t in the top 10.
What Are the Criteria for Global Livability?
The EIU’s livability index evaluates cities based on five different criteria:
- Stability: Including levels of petty crime, violent crime, threats of terrorism, military conflict, and civil unrest.
- Healthcare: Evaluating the availability and quality of private and public healthcare services, over-the-counter drugs, and general healthcare indicators from World Bank data.
- Culture and Environment: Taking into account climate discomfort, corruption levels, censorship, social or religious restrictions, cultural and sporting facilities, and consumer goods availability.
- Education: Assessing the availability and quality of private and public education based on World Bank data.
- Infrastructure: Considering the quality of road networks, public transport, international links, water and energy provision, telecommunications, and housing quality.
Calgary: Canada’s Top Ranked City
Calgary achieved an overall score of 96.8, making it the highest-ranked Canadian city. The city excelled in stability, healthcare, and education, each scoring a perfect 100. However, Calgary’s scores in culture and environment, and infrastructure were slightly lower yet notable (both over 90). As per VisaVerge.com, Calgary attracts many newcomers and Canadians due to its lower taxes, affordable rents, and robust school systems.
Vancouver: Maintaining High Standards
Despite moving two places down to seventh, Vancouver still ranks among the world’s most livable cities with an overall score of 96.6. Like Calgary, Vancouver received perfect scores in healthcare and education. However, issues such as persistent housing problems impacted its ranking. Vancouver remains a strong contender due to its outstanding healthcare and educational offerings, alongside rich cultural attributes.
Toronto: A Fall Outside the Top 10
Toronto’s notable drop to 12th place in 2024 reveals significant challenges the city faces. Historically performing well in stability, healthcare, and education, Toronto’s current struggle with rising housing costs and limited availability has impacted its ranking.
Top 10 Most Livable Cities in 2024
Here’s a quick look at the top 10 cities in 2024:
- Vienna, Austria – Index: 98.4
- Copenhagen, Denmark – Index: 98.0
- Zurich, Switzerland – Index: 97.1
- Melbourne, Australia – Index: 97.0
- Calgary, Canada – Index: 96.8
- Geneva, Switzerland – Index: 96.8
- Sydney, Australia – Index: 96.6
- Vancouver, Canada – Index: 96.6
- Osaka, Japan – Index: 96.0
- Auckland, New Zealand – Index: 96.0
Why Does This Matter for Immigrants?
For prospective immigrants, understanding the Global Livability Ranking is essential. Cities that rank high tend to provide better living standards, quality healthcare, education, and robust infrastructure. For instance, those considering Calgary or Vancouver can confidently expect excellent healthcare and educational facilities.
For further details on immigration processes and criteria for moving to Canada, you can visit Government of Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship page.
Whether you’re planning to relocate for work, study, or improved living conditions, the Global Livability Ranking offers valuable insights to help you choose the best city for your next chapter in life.
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Glossary of Terms
- Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU): An organization providing global economic forecasting and analysis; it produces annual assessments such as the Global Livability Ranking, evaluating cities based on various quality of life metrics.
- Global Livability Ranking: An annual index by the EIU that ranks cities worldwide based on criteria including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure, to determine their overall livability.
- Stability: A criterion in the Global Livability Ranking that measures the safety of a city, encompassing factors such as crime rates, terrorism threats, military conflict, and civil unrest.
- Healthcare: One of the key criteria in the Global Livability Ranking, assessing the availability, quality, and general effectiveness of medical services and healthcare systems within a city.
- Infrastructure: In the context of the Global Livability Ranking, this term refers to the quality and availability of essential services like transportation, road networks, telecommunications, water and energy supply, and housing within a city.
This Article In A Nutshell:
A city’s livability is rated by stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure. Factors such as low crime rates, quality health services, cultural amenities, good schools, and efficient infrastructure make a city highly livable. Vienna consistently ranks high, exemplifying these qualities, ensuring residents enjoy a superior quality of life.
— By VisaVerge.com
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