The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has been regularly ranking cities worldwide, outranking them with a data-driven snapshot of where life is safest and most comfortable. The world’s highest-ranked cities have been incredibly stable for several years.
But in 2025, everything changed: for the first time in three years, Vienna was beaten. Copenhagen takes the top spot due to high marks in stability, education and infrastructure – a challenging three-way tie to overcome.
But the greatest 2025 shake-ups weren’t merely about increasing or decreasing scores – they were about safety, with geopolitical tensions spreading across the globe. Vienna especially had to endure a bomb threat that cancelled the 2024 Taylor Swift concert, alongside a recently orchestrated attack on a train station.
Nevertheless, Western European cities, Australia, Canada and New Zealand remain well-placed in the rankings, with Osaka being the sole Asian city ranked inside the top 10. But what exactly is it like to live in one of these cities? We spoke to five locals from this year’s top-ranked cities to discover.
Ranking number one in liveability, the Danish capital also recently ranked as the world’s happiest city. The two are inseparable, as Copenhagen’s high scores in stability, infrastructure and environment directly translate to day-to-day happiness for residents.
“Trains arrive at 12:16 when booked for 12:16. Nobody raises an eyebrow if you show up at a posh restaurant in sneakers, and a dip in a clean harbour is within reach even in January if you’re adventurous,” said Copenhagener Thomas Franklin, CEO of fintech firm Swapped.com. “Copenhagen charms me time and again with its placidity. Roads are broad, bicycles outpace cars, and the city functions on sense.”
Franklin also loves the community of the city and the absence of pressure that allows you to catch up with a friend by the water without prior arrangement, and enjoy coffee for two hours.
Although the skies may be perpetually grey, he confirms that the city is lightened by outdoor markets, open-air public saunas and the clang of children playing in the park. “It is a city that never tries too hard but always delivers,” he said.
