Western Europe has once again cemented its reputation as the most liveable region in the world, according to the latest global liveability index, released this week by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
With Vienna claiming the top spot for the third year in a row and cities like Copenhagen, Zurich and Geneva close behind, the rankings highlight a continuing trend: Western Europe is not merely surviving the pressures of the modern age—it is thriving.
The annual survey evaluates 173 cities on metrics including healthcare, education, infrastructure, stability, and culture. This year’s results show a familiar dominance by Western European cities, which continue to outperform their global peers in almost every category, thanks to their combination of political stability, high-quality public services, and well-preserved cultural heritage.
Urban Sanctuaries in an Uncertain World
Amid growing instability elsewhere in the world—geopolitical tensions, climate stress, and the lingering socio-economic aftershocks of the pandemic—Western Europe’s top-performing cities have emerged as models of balance. Vienna, for example, was praised for its efficient public transport, safe streets, and well-funded cultural institutions. Zurich and Geneva, meanwhile, scored nearly perfectly in healthcare and infrastructure, bolstered by Switzerland’s enviable standard of living.
“The consistency we’re seeing from Western Europe is not accidental,” said Dr. Michael Prentice, a senior urban analyst at the EIU. “There is a deeply entrenched commitment in these cities to public investment, long-term urban planning, and above all, resilience. This isn’t glamour—it’s competence.”
Copenhagen’s Quiet Triumph
Copenhagen, which placed second, has become something of a quiet titan in urban planning circles. With its famously bicycle-friendly infrastructure, carbon-neutral ambitions, and strong social cohesion, the Danish capital has carved out a niche as a model city for future urban development.
“People often talk about Copenhagen in terms of design and aesthetics,” said Sofia Eklund, a Swedish urbanist based in Berlin. “But what’s truly remarkable is how the city functions. It’s built around the citizen, not the car, and it shows.”
The Danish model, she added, is being looked to by planners across the continent—from Barcelona to Brussels—as a possible template for post-industrial urban recovery.
A Stark East-West Divide
Yet if the rankings are a celebration of Western Europe’s urban successes, they also expose a persistent divide between east and west. Eastern European cities such as Belgrade, Sofia, and Bucharest lag significantly behind their western neighbours, due largely to ongoing political volatility, underfunded infrastructure, and weaker healthcare systems.
Though progress is being made—Warsaw and Prague have climbed steadily in recent years—the gap remains significant. Analysts suggest that while EU membership has boosted economic development in many eastern capitals, the dividends of that growth are still unevenly distributed.
“Eastern Europe has the potential,” said Dr Prentice. “But cities need consistent governance, depoliticised institutions, and decades—not just years—of stability to reach the levels we see in places like Vienna or Amsterdam.”
Quality Over Quantity
The liveability rankings don’t necessarily align with global city size or influence. London, despite its cultural clout and economic power, fell outside the top 25 this year, hampered by high crime rates, strained infrastructure, and cost-of-living concerns. Paris fared better but still faces challenges, particularly in areas of social cohesion and transport reliability.
“These are magnificent cities with global importance,” noted Eklund. “But liveability is not the same as global significance. A city like Vienna doesn’t need to be the financial capital of Europe—it just needs to be a great place to live. And it is.”
The Unspoken Advantage: Governance
One recurring theme among top-ranked cities is good governance. Western European municipalities are often granted broad autonomy, allowing local leaders to implement policies tailored to the specific needs of their residents. From zoning to healthcare provision, cities like Amsterdam and Munich have shown that when given the tools, local governments can dramatically improve daily life.
This decentralisation stands in stark contrast to the overly centralised systems found in much of Southern and Eastern Europe, where city administrators often struggle to implement reforms due to national-level bottlenecks.
Lessons for the World
As the global urban population continues to rise—more than two-thirds of the world is expected to live in cities by 2050—the question of liveability is becoming increasingly urgent. The EIU rankings, while not without their critics, offer a snapshot of what works and where improvements are needed.
For cities in Asia, Africa and the Americas, the message is clear: investment in public services, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion pays off. Western Europe, for all its imperfections, offers a blueprint for cities seeking to thrive in an era of uncertainty.
The UK government, too, might do well to study its continental neighbours more closely. While London remains a magnet for global talent, its slipping rank suggests a need for renewed focus on safety, affordability, and infrastructure maintenance.
A Model for Modern Life
In the end, Western Europe’s urban ascendancy is not about luxury or spectacle. It is about calm, competent administration; clean streets and efficient buses; cultural vibrancy and affordable healthcare. In short, it’s about the essentials of a good life, delivered dependably.
As the EIU’s findings confirm, Western Europe may no longer be the engine of global economic growth—but in terms of quality of life, it is very much the envy of the world.
