Melbourne maintains status as ‘World’s Most Liveable City’

Melbourne has maintained its status as the 'World's Most Liveable City' in the annual Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index, partly as a result of its open spaces.

Acknowledged for an unprecedented sixth consecutive year, with a score of 97.5 out of 100, Melbourne narrowly edged out the Austrian capital of Vienna (second) and the Canadian city of Vancouver (third).

Comparing 140 cities from across the world, the EIU Liveability Ranking assigns a rating across five broad categories, including: stability; healthcare; culture and environment; education; and infrastructure.

The survey also placed Adelaide equal fifth and Perth seventh.

Key to the results is the size of cities, with the world’s mega cities such as London, New York, Paris and Tokyo not featuring on the list.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Douglas Baker from QUT's School of Property and Planning agreed a city's liveability often boiled down to the size of its population.

He pointed out that the only European cities in the top 10 - Vienna, Helsinki and Hamburg - were not large on a global scale, stating there does appear to be a correlation between the types of cities that sit right at the very top of the ranking.

"Those that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density.

"These can foster a range of recreational activities without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure.

"Six of the top 10 scoring cities are in Australia and Canada, which have, respectively, population densities of 3.1 and 3.9 people per square kilometre."

Sydney, which ranked seventh last year, dropped out of the top 10 due to a "heightened perceived threat of terrorism", according to the report.

Welcoming the findings, Destination Melbourne, Chief Executive, Laura Cavallo said the recognition will have a positive impact on Melbourne’s visitor industry.

Cavallo stated “this announcement will further boost Melbourne’s global position and profile to our international visitors, especially those who come to Melbourne for study or business reasons.

“The quality of life that we, as a society, enjoy in Melbourne should not be underestimated. It’s a safe, vibrant city with cultural attractions, world-class events and festivals, and countless dining and entertainment options.

“As the factors that underpin our liveability also contribute to the visitor experience, these elements add up to make our city a must-visit destination for people from all around the world.”

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