The world’s 15 best places to live
Quality of life and personal safety rank high for these metropolises, according to a survey by human resources consulting firm Mercer, which evaluated 221 cities worldwide.
1: Vienna
Vienna has won the title of the world’s best city for quality of life since 2009. It is one of three capital cities around the world to make the top 10 list. The city is Austria’s largest by population, as well as the cultural, economic and political center of the nation.
No. 2: Zurich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and previously held the title as the city with the best quality of life in the world. Zurich is known as the economic engine of Switzerland, with one out of every nine jobs in the country based there.
No. 3: Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland has the best quality of life in the Asia-Pacific region. It has consistently ranked in the top five best places to live in the past five years. New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland is home to 1.35 million people, or more than 30% of the country’s population.
No. 4: Munich
Munich is Germany’s third-largest city and one of the country’s key economic centers. Home to some of Germany’s most notable businesses, including engineering firm Siemens and insurer Allianz, the city generates about 30% of the state of Bavaria’s GDP.
No. 5 (tie): Düsseldorf, Germany
Düsseldorf has made the list of the top 10 places to live for the past five years. The city by the river Rhine is the seventh most populated in Germany and boasts an advanced infrastructure.
No. 5 (tie): Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver is the only Canadian and North American city to make the top 10 on the list. The city is renowned for making numerous lists of the world’s most livable cities over the past decade. It has ranked among the top five in the Mercer quality-of-life survey for the past five years.
No. 7: Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt is one of three German cities to rank among the top 10 in the world. The city is the fifth largest in Germany and is considered the largest financial center in continental Europe. It’s home to such major institutions as the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
No. 8: Geneva
Geneva is Switzerland’s second most populous city and home to about 20 international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the Red Cross.
No. 9 (tie): Bern, Switzerland
Bern is the capital of Switzerland and one of three Swiss cities to make the top 10. The city has consistently held on to the No. 9 spot in the quality-of-life survey for the past four years.
No. 9 (tie): Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen has made Mercer’s list of top 15 cities for the past five years. The city’s staying power highlights Europe’s dominance in the quality-of-life survey. Eight of the top 10 cities on this list are in Europe.
No. 11: Sydney
Sydney is Australia’s biggest city by population and the economic hub of the country. It accounts for about one-quarter of Australia’s GDP. The city is home to some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
No. 12: Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities on our list, renowned for its red light district and marijuana-serving coffee shops.
No. 13: Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington is one of only three cities in the Asia-Pacific region to make the 2011 list. The city is the world’s southernmost capital and has the most educated population in the country, with more than one-third of its residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.
No. 14: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and one of six capital cities to make the list. Home to Canada’s federal agencies and foreign embassies, the city has the most highly educated workforce in the country.
No. 15: Toronto
Toronto is one of only three Canadian and North American cities to make the list of the world’s top 15 places with the best quality of life. Canada’s largest city is the fifth most populous city in North America.