Source: TE
Context
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released the Global Liveability Index 2026 — its annual assessment of 173 cities worldwide across 30 indicators grouped into 5 categories: Stability, Healthcare, Culture and Environment, Education, and Infrastructure.
Five Assessment Categories
| Category | Measures |
|---|---|
| Stability | Crime, terrorism, civil unrest |
| Healthcare | Quality of public & private healthcare |
| Culture & Environment | Climate, culture, environment, corruption, censorship |
| Education | Quality and availability of schools |
| Infrastructure | Roads, transport, housing, connectivity |
Top 10 Most Liveable Cities (2026)
| Rank | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copenhagen | Denmark |
| 2 | Vienna | Austria |
| 3 | Melbourne | Australia |
| 4 | Sydney | Australia |
| 5 | Zurich | Switzerland |
| 6 | Geneva | Switzerland |
| 7 | Osaka | Japan |
| 8 | Adelaide | Australia |
| 9 | Vancouver | Canada |
| 10 | Tokyo | Japan |
Indian Cities in the Index
| City | Rank (2026) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 120 |
| Mumbai | 121 |
| Chennai | 123 |
| Bengaluru | 127 |
Bottom Ranked City
| Rank | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 173 | Damascus | Syria |
Who is EIU?
- Full form: Economist Intelligence Unit.
- Founded: 1946 — nearly 80 years old.
- HQ: London, UK.
- Part of: Economist Enterprise — part of The Economist Group.
- Publications:
- Global Liveability Index (since 1988).
- Democracy Index (annual).
- Cost of Living Survey.
- World Ahead (macroeconomic forecasts).
- Business Environment Rankings.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026, consider the following statements:
- It is published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
- It assesses 173 cities worldwide across 30 indicators.
- The 5 categories are: Stability, Healthcare, Culture and Environment, Education, and Infrastructure.
- It is published by the World Bank.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the Global Liveability Index is published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) — part of The Economist Group — NOT the World Bank.)
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: EIU publishes it, not World Bank.
