Context:

• The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released the Global Liveability Index 2026 report.

Key Highlights:

• Organization: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), part of The Economist Group.
• Coverage: Assessment of 173 cities.
• Evaluation: Based on five parameters—Stability, Healthcare, Culture & Environment, Education, and Infrastructure.

Five Main Pillars of Assessment:

• The index measures cities on a scale of 1 to 100 using more than 30 qualitative and quantitative indicators, divided into five categories:

1. Stability (25% Weight): Crime rate, civil unrest, terrorism threat, and military conflict.
2. Healthcare (20% Weight): Quality and availability of public and private healthcare facilities and medicines.
3. Culture & Environment (25% Weight): Climate, corruption levels, social and cultural restrictions, and recreational facilities.
4. Education (10% Weight): Quality and accessibility of public and private education.
5. Infrastructure (20% Weight): Public transport, road network, energy, water supply, telecommunications, and housing quality.

Global Scenario 2026:

• Average Global Score: The global liveability score remained stable at 76.1/100, unchanged from last year.
• Contrasting Trends: Global stability declined due to conflicts in the Middle East, while improvements in healthcare and education in Asia (especially China and Japan) offset the decline.
• Western Europe's Dominance: Western Europe remained the world's most liveable region with an average score of 91.7, despite a slight decline.
• Rise of Asia: Asia's average score increased by 0.3 points, with 9 Asian cities now featuring among the global top 20.

Top 10 Most Liveable Cities:

• Copenhagen (Denmark): Ranked 1st for the second consecutive year (Overall Score: 98; perfect 100/100 in Stability, Education, and Infrastructure).
• Vienna (Austria)
• Melbourne (Australia)
• Sydney (Australia)
• Zurich (Switzerland)
• Geneva (Switzerland)
• Osaka (Japan)
• Adelaide (Australia)
• Vancouver (Canada)
• Tokyo (Japan)

Five Least Liveable Cities:

• Damascus (Syria) – Ranked last globally.
• Tripoli (Libya)
• Dhaka (Bangladesh)
• Karachi (Pakistan) – Ranked 170th globally (4th least liveable).
• Algiers (Algeria)

Performance of Indian Cities:

Major Reasons Behind the Poor Performance of Indian Cities:

Very Low Score in Culture & Environment (33–35):

• Air pollution and environmental degradation: Dangerous levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in Delhi-NCR contribute to respiratory diseases.
• Waste management: Landfill mountains and untreated sewage flowing into rivers have created severe environmental challenges.

Heavy Pressure on the Healthcare System (Score: 41.7):

• Inadequate infrastructure and overcrowding in government hospitals.
• High cost of tertiary healthcare, leading to increased out-of-pocket expenditure.

Urbanization and Infrastructure Deficiencies:

• Waterlogging during the monsoon, with cities like Mumbai and Delhi facing flood-like situations even after normal rainfall.
• Limited public transport and rising private vehicle ownership causing severe traffic congestion.
• Rapid growth of slums due to the shortage of affordable housing.