One European capital city has been crowned as the best place to live in the world. The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2024 has ranked cities globally based on stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure, and Vienna, the capital city of Austria, has clinched the top spot. This marks the eighth time in the last decade that Vienna has secured first place, only missing out in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions but triumphing in the years before and after this period.
Vienna scored 98.4 out of 100, earning perfect scores in stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The Austrian capital then scored 93.5 for culture and environment. As of 2024, there were 2.015 million residents enjoying Vienna's high liveability, and the city also played host to an estimated 8.2 million international tourists during the same year. The city boasts attractions such as the historic Schonbrunn Palace, the breathtaking St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg, formerly the heart of the Habsburg empire and now home to the globally-renowned Spanish Riding School.
Vienna also offers a vibrant arts and culture scene. Over 450 balls are held during the ball season, which hits its peak in January and February. However, the EIU docked points from the city in the culture and environment category (the only one where it didn't score a perfect 100/100) due to its lack of hosting major sporting events compared to other cities on the list. Hot on Vienna's heels was Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, which scored an impressive 98 - even outperforming Vienna in the culture and environment category with a score of 95.4.
