On the 26th, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released the 2024 Global Livability Index, with three Taiwanese cities making the list: Taipei (66th), Kaohsiung (72nd), and Taichung (74th). While the EIU's public report summary and thematic articles in "The Economist" did not mention Taiwan, EIU Senior Data Analyst Rati responded to inquiries from the Central News Agency, stating that the livability of these three cities ranks among the global leaders (scoring above 80).
Taipei (Global Ranking: 66th) (Photo: freepik)
According to international expert evaluations, Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung have improved their scores in the "healthcare" category, which is a crucial consideration for aging populations. As a result, the overall scores of these three cities have increased this year, with Taipei and Taichung each climbing one spot in the global rankings compared to last year.
According to international experts, Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung have seen increased scores in the "healthcare" category, a critical factor for aging populations. (Photo: freepik)
EIU's Global Livability Index is based on five major scoring categories: stability (25%), healthcare (20%), culture and environment (25%), education (10%), and infrastructure (20%). In the 2024 rankings, Vienna has maintained its position as the world's most livable city for the third consecutive year, with Osaka being the only Asian city to enter the top ten.
Among the top ten cities globally are Vienna, Copenhagen, Zurich, Melbourne, Calgary, Geneva, Sydney, Vancouver, Osaka, and Auckland. However, due to housing crises, Melbourne, Sydney, and Vancouver saw declines in their "infrastructure" scores, with Toronto consequently dropping out of the top ten.
EIU notes that Western Europe remains the most livable region, ranking first in all categories except "education." North America leads globally in the "education" category. However, average scores in Western Europe and North America have declined since last year, while other regions have shown varying degrees of improvement.
Additionally, Hong Kong has improved significantly this year, ranking 50th in the Global Livability Index, with Beijing also making notable progress, ranking 81st.
