Global Liveability Index 2026

Why in News?

The Global Liveability Index 2026, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), has ranked New Delhi 120th among 173 cities assessed globally. Mumbai ranked 121st, Chennai 123rd and Bengaluru 127th.

The index provides a comparative assessment of urban living conditions and highlights how factors such as stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and the cultural and environmental environment influence the quality of life in cities.

What is the Global Liveability Index?

The Global Liveability Index is an annual assessment published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Its objective is to measure how suitable cities are for everyday living rather than assessing their economic size, business importance or popularity among tourists.

The 2026 edition covers 173 cities and evaluates them through 30 indicators grouped into five broad categories. Each city receives a score on a 1-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better overall liveability.

The index therefore provides a broader understanding of urban development by examining not only physical infrastructure but also social services, public stability and the overall environment in which people live.

Parameters of the Index

The Global Liveability Index evaluates cities across five major categories:

Stability examines factors affecting social order and the security of everyday life. Healthcare assesses the availability and quality of medical services. Culture and Environment considers aspects that influence the overall urban experience and environmental quality. Education reflects the availability and quality of educational facilities, while Infrastructure examines the physical systems and facilities necessary for efficient urban functioning.

Together, these categories demonstrate that liveability is a multidimensional concept extending beyond income and economic growth.

Key Findings of Global Liveability Index 2026

The global average liveability score remained unchanged at 76.1 out of 100, indicating relative stability in overall global urban living conditions.

Among the five categories, healthcare recorded the strongest year-on-year improvement, with the average score increasing by 0.74 points. This highlights the growing importance of accessible and effective healthcare systems in determining urban quality of life.

At the top of the rankings, Copenhagen in Denmark retained its position as the world's most liveable city. It was followed by Vienna in Austria and Melbourne in Australia.

The continued presence of cities from developed countries among the top positions reflects the importance of stable governance, quality public services, strong infrastructure and accessible social amenities in creating liveable urban environments.

India’s Performance

Indian cities continued to occupy relatively lower positions in the 2026 rankings.

New Delhi ranked 120th, making it the highest-ranked Indian city in the index. It was followed by Mumbai at 121st, Chennai at 123rd, and Bengaluru at 127th.

The rankings highlight the persistent challenges faced by major Indian metropolitan cities despite their economic importance and rapid urban development. Large cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are important centres of employment, education, technology and economic activity, but they also experience challenges associated with rapid population growth and urbanisation.

The relatively low rankings therefore underline the need to ensure that economic expansion is accompanied by improvements in the everyday quality of urban life.

Significance for India

The index is particularly relevant for India because the country is experiencing rapid urbanisation. As more people migrate towards cities for employment, education and better opportunities, pressure on housing, transportation, healthcare, sanitation and other urban services is increasing.

The performance of Indian cities indicates the need to move beyond measuring urban development through economic indicators alone. A city may have strong economic output while simultaneously facing difficulties related to congestion, public services or environmental conditions.

Improving liveability requires greater emphasis on public infrastructure, healthcare, education, environmental sustainability and urban stability. Efficient public transport, better waste management, adequate housing, cleaner air and accessible healthcare can directly improve the quality of life of urban residents.

The findings can therefore serve as a useful reference for policymakers while designing urban development and smart-city strategies.

Challenges for Indian Cities

Rapid and unplanned urbanisation remains a major challenge. Expansion of cities often places enormous pressure on existing infrastructure and public services. Traffic congestion, inadequate public transport, pollution, pressure on water resources and insufficient housing can negatively affect liveability.

At the same time, urban development needs to become more environmentally sustainable. Climate-related risks, extreme weather events and environmental degradation can increasingly influence the safety and comfort of urban populations.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply to make cities economically productive but to make them safe, healthy, inclusive, sustainable and resilient.

Way Forward

India's urban policy should focus on an integrated approach to improving liveability. Greater investment in public healthcare, quality education, affordable housing, mass public transportation and resilient infrastructure is essential.

Urban planning should also incorporate environmental sustainability through green spaces, efficient waste management, water conservation and climate-resilient infrastructure. Better coordination between municipal bodies and other levels of government can improve the delivery of essential services.

Ultimately, the Global Liveability Index highlights an important principle of urban development: the success of a city should be measured not only by its economic growth but also by the quality of life it provides to its residents. For India, improving the liveability of its rapidly expanding cities will be central to achieving inclusive and sustainable urban development.