The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released the Global Liveability Index 2026, which assesses the quality of living across 173 cities worldwide. Among Indian cities, New Delhi ranked 120th, followed by Mumbai (121st), Chennai (123rd), and Bengaluru (127th). Globally, Copenhagen (Denmark) retained the top position as the world’s most liveable city, followed by Vienna (Austria) and Melbourne (Australia).
Global Liveability Index 2026
It is an annual global benchmark that evaluates and compares the quality of life in major cities based on key urban development and public service indicators. It measures how effectively cities provide safe, healthy, and sustainable living conditions.
- Published By: Economist Intelligence Unit, research and analysis division of The Economist Group.
- Scoring Method: Cities are evaluated on a scale of 1–100.
Aim
- To identify the most and least liveable cities globally.
- To evaluate the quality, accessibility, and reliability of essential urban services and overall living conditions.
Five Core Assessment Parameters
1. Stability (25%)
- Assesses: Crime levels, Military conflict, Civil unrest, Terrorism threats, Overall safety and security
2. Culture & Environment (25%)
- Evaluates: Censorship, Climate, Social restrictions, Sports facilities, Corruption, Cultural and recreational opportunities, Availability of consumer goods
3. Healthcare (20%)
- Measures: Availability of medicines, Quality of public and private healthcare, Public health services
4. Infrastructure (20%)
- Assesses: International connectivity, Roads, Energy supply, Public transportation, Housing, Telecommunications, Water supply
5. Education (10%)
- Evaluates: Accessibility and quality of public and private educational institutions
Global Top Three Cities (2026)
| Rank | City | Country |
| 1 | Copenhagen | Denmark |
| 2 | Vienna | Austria |
| 3 | Melbourne | Australia |
Performance of Indian Cities
| Indian Rank | Global Rank | City |
| 1 | 120 | New Delhi |
| 2 | 121 | Mumbai |
| 3 | 123 | Chennai |
| 4 | 127 | Bengaluru |
Performance Trend
- New Delhi and Mumbai recorded no change in rankings compared to 2025.
- In contrast, 10 Chinese cities improved their rankings over the previous year.
Key Reasons Behind India’s Low Rankings
Environmental Challenges
- Severe air pollution
- Rising temperatures
- Poor waste management
- Environmental degradation
Healthcare Constraints
- Overburdened public healthcare system
- Limited hospital capacity
- High out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure
- Unequal access to quality medical services
Urban Infrastructure Issues
- Rapid and unplanned urbanisation, Traffic congestion, Housing shortages, Water scarcity, Expansion of slums, Inadequate public transport and Urban flooding