(CNN) – Are you considering a big move this year? You can think of Canada or Western Europe.
The annual ranking of the world’s most livable cities has just been published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and the Global Liveability Index for 2022 shows some notable differences from the previous year. The EIU, a sister organization of The Economist, ranks 173rd cities in the world by a variety of factors, including healthcare, crime rates, political stability, infrastructure and access to green spaces.
The presence of the Red Cross and the European Union helped Geneva rank high on the list.
Athanasios Jumpasis / Getty Images
Great winners
Overall, Europe dominated the list of six places in the top 11 (there was a tie for 10th place). Copenhagen, which CNN Travel declared the European Capital of Coolness in December 2021, ranked second in the global vitality index.
Switzerland was the only country in Europe to have two top 10 entries, with Geneva in sixth and Zurich in third.
However, the overall winner in the country was Canada. The Great White North had three of its cities represented – Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.
“Cities that topped our list before the pandemic have recovered thanks to their stability, good infrastructure and services, as well as enjoyable activities,” the index wrote.
Large droppers
Last year’s winner, Auckland of New Zealand, dropped out of the top 10 in 2022 to come in at a surprising 34th place.
Neighboring Australia had the most noticeable drop in the rankings this year. Although it topped the list in the past, Melbourne dropped to 10th place in 2022.
In 2021, Australia dominated the EIU index, with Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth joining Melbourne in the top 10. This year, they rank 27th, 30th and 32nd respectively.
Osaka was the only Asian city to make the top 10 this year.
Philip Fong / AFP / Getty Images
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, was in fourth place in 2021, but also dropped out of the top 10 this year.
Although Europe had a very good performance in 2022, two notable entries are missing – London and Paris. Increased living costs have played a role in both metropolises, as has the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
The ongoing global conflict was the number one factor in determining which countries were at the bottom of the list. Damascus, Lagos and Tripoli were rated as the three least habitable cities in the world.
Meanwhile, Kyiv was not analyzed this year due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Vitality versus the cost of living
Earlier this month, global mobility company ECA International published its list of the world’s most expensive cities to live in, focusing on immigrants.
Hong Kong had the dubious honor of taking first place, with New York, Geneva, London and Tokyo rounding out the top five.
The only city to appear in both the ECA and EIU indices was Geneva.
The ranking of the most expensive cities is determined solely by economic factors – average rent, gas price and the like – in contrast to the EIU list, which considers the city’s cultural attractions such as museums and concerts, and infrastructure such as public transport.
The Viennese art and culture scene helped her to receive high honors.
Joe Clamar / AFP / Getty Images
The Global Vitality Index for 2022: Top 10
1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Calgary, Canada
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Toronto, Canada
9. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
10. Osaka, Japan and Melbourne, Australia (draw)
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