Melbourne drops in global liveability ranking as Athens becomes second least liveable city in Europe

Melbourne. Photo: Pixabay

1 July 2024 6:19pm

In a recent shift in global and European city rankings, Melbourne has dropped to fourth place in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index, while Athens has been named the second least liveable city in Europe according to a European Commission report.

The Global Liveability Index evaluates 173 cities worldwide based on factors such as environment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and culture. Melbourne scored 97 out of 100, while Sydney, which fell from fourth to seventh place, scored 96.6.

Both cities saw their rankings decline primarily due to a lack of affordable housing.

“We have downgraded overall infrastructure scores for Australia, owing to an ongoing housing crisis that has led to an all-time low availability of rental properties in many of the cities,” the EIU reported.

Despite the drop, Melbourne remains in the top five most liveable cities globally, with Vienna, Copenhagen, and Zurich occupying the top three spots. Vienna was named the most liveable city for the third consecutive year.

Meanwhile, a European Commission report published earlier in the year, has identified Athens as the second least liveable city in Europe. This conclusion is part of the sixth survey on the quality of life in European cities, covering 83 cities across the EU, EFTA countries, the UK, the western Balkans, and Turkey.

European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, highlighted that high-quality job opportunities, effective public services, and efficient town planning are crucial for overall satisfaction. The report also emphasized that smaller and medium-sized cities generally offer a higher quality of life, with safety, cleanliness, and reduced noise levels being significant factors.

Zurich emerged as Europe’s most liveable city, excelling in job satisfaction, public transport, healthcare services, air quality, and financial stability. In contrast, Palermo in Sicily ranked as the least liveable city in Europe.

The rankings underscore ongoing challenges in Melbourne’s housing market and highlight areas in need of improvement in Athens to enhance the quality of life for residents.