Copenhagen tops EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 as Indian cities lag
The Global Liveability Index 2026, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), ranked Copenhagen (Denmark) as the world's most liveable city, followed by Vienna (Austria) and Melbourne (Australia). The annual index evaluates 173 cities against 30 qualitative and quantitative indicators grouped into five key categories — stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure and culture — scored on a 100-point scale. Among Indian cities, New Delhi ranked 120th, followed by Mumbai (121st), Chennai (123rd) and Bengaluru (127th). The EIU, the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, noted that Western Europe continues to dominate the rankings owing to political stability and high-quality public services, while Australian cities score well on transport and healthcare. The report also flagged that Indian cities face challenges such as traffic congestion, air pollution and infrastructure deficits, even as metro rail and smart-city investments deliver gradual gains. The index is widely used by multinational companies to set hardship allowances for expatriates.
Key Facts & Details
9 points- 1The Global Liveability Index 2026 is published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
- 2Copenhagen (Denmark) was ranked the world's most liveable city, ahead of Vienna and Melbourne.
- 3The index assessed 173 cities using 30 indicators across five categories on a 100-point scale.
- 4New Delhi was India's highest-ranked city at 120th, followed by Mumbai (121st).
- 5Chennai ranked 123rd and Bengaluru ranked 127th among Indian cities.
- 6The EIU is the research and analysis division of The Economist Group.
Deep Dive
- +The five key categories used are stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure and culture.
- +The index is used by multinational companies to determine hardship allowances for expatriates and by policymakers for urban planning.
- +The report notes that cities facing conflict, political instability or economic crises consistently rank at the bottom of the index.
Exam Focus
Examiners may ask the publisher (EIU / The Economist Group), the top city (Copenhagen), the number of cities assessed (173), or India's highest-ranked city and its rank (New Delhi, 120th).
Related Topics
Exam Relevance & Angle
Global rankings and their publishers are staple general-awareness questions. Knowing that the EIU publishes the Global Liveability Index, that Copenhagen topped 2026, and where Indian cities like New Delhi stand gives aspirants ready marks in reports-and-indexes sections.
Target Exams
Background & Context
The Global Liveability Index is an annual report produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and analysis arm of The Economist Group, publisher of The Economist. It measures the quality of urban life by scoring cities against 30 qualitative and quantitative indicators across five broad categories — stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure and culture. Each city receives a rating on a 100-point scale. The exercise is designed as a benchmark for governments, urban planners, businesses and expatriates, and companies routinely use it to calculate hardship allowances when posting staff abroad. It sits alongside other EIU products in the global family of city and country comparative indices.
Test Yourself
1 / 2Which city was ranked the world's most liveable in the Global Liveability Index 2026?
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