Budapest has slipped four places in the latest global liveability ranking compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), recording one of the steepest declines worldwide. Despite the setback, the Hungarian capital remains the highest-ranked capital city in Central and Eastern Europe.
Copenhagen remains the world’s most liveable city
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2026, Copenhagen has retained its position as the world’s most liveable city for the second consecutive year. The Danish capital scored 98 out of 100, receiving perfect marks for stability, education and infrastructure.
The world’s top 10 most liveable cities in 2026 are:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Vienna, Austria
- Melbourne, Australia
- Sydney, Australia
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Osaka, Japan
- Adelaide, Australia
- Vancouver, Canada
- Tokyo, Japan
The ranking evaluates 173 cities worldwide across five categories:
- Stability
- Healthcare
- Culture and environment
- Education
- Infrastructure
Budapest falls four places
Budapest ranked 36th this year, down from 32nd in the previous edition of the index, 444.hu reports.
While the Hungarian capital remains comfortably ahead of every other capital in the post-communist Central and Eastern European region, its four-place drop is among the largest declines recorded this year. According to the report, only six cities worldwide experienced a bigger fall in the rankings. Five of those are cities in the Middle East affected by regional conflicts, including Doha, Muscat and Kuwait City.
Biggest movers in the rankings
The biggest improver this year was Fuzhou in China, which climbed seven places. Chinese cities dominated the list of fastest-rising locations, occupying six of the top seven improvement spots. The only exception was Lisbon, which climbed six places.
Europe continues to dominate
European cities once again performed strongly in the liveability index, with Copenhagen, Vienna, Zurich and Geneva all featuring in the global top six. According to the EIU, the highest-ranked cities combine political stability, high-quality healthcare and education, efficient infrastructure, and attractive urban environments.
The report highlights Copenhagen’s extensive cycling infrastructure, clean harbour waters and compact, pedestrian-friendly design, while Vienna continues to score maximum points for healthcare and education.
Damascus remains the least liveable city
At the opposite end of the ranking, Damascus in Syria was once again named the world’s least liveable city, scoring just 32 points. It was followed by Tripoli in Libya, while Kyiv, affected by more than four years of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, ranked 166th out of the 173 cities surveyed, making it Europe’s lowest-ranked capital.
What the ranking measures
The EIU’s annual Global Liveability Index is regarded as one of the world’s leading quality-of-life rankings. Each city is assessed using dozens of indicators grouped into five broad categories. Rather than measuring tourism appeal or economic performance, the index evaluates how suitable cities are for everyday life, taking into account factors such as public services, safety, infrastructure and living conditions.
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