Calgary ranks no. 3 on the 2022 listing of the world’s most livable cities.
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Whether you’re contemplating a giant transfer or just wish to uncover a beautiful new metropolis vacation spot in your travels, take into consideration pointing your compass due north this yr.
Three Canadian cities landed within the prime 10 on the World Liveability Index, an annual rating from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that charges 172 cities all over the world on over 30 elements, from healthcare, infrastructure, training and crime charges to entry to cultural and sports activities pursuits and inexperienced area.
Vienna plucked the highest spot from final yr’s winner, Auckland, which tumbled from no. 1 to no. 34 this yr largely as a result of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
After slipping to twelfth place in 2021 whereas its museums and eating places have been closed, Vienna “has since rebounded to first place, the place it held in 2018 and 2019,” the report mentioned. “Stability and good infrastructure are town’s essential charms for its inhabitants, supported by good healthcare and loads of alternatives for tradition and leisure.”
Different Western European city facilities within the prime 10 embrace Copenhagen (no. 2), Zurich (no. 3, tie), Geneva (no. 6), Frankfurt (no. 7) and Amsterdam (no. 9) — all outperforming perennial favorites Paris (no. 19), London (no. 33) and Barcelona (no. 35).
Nearer to residence, the Canadian cities within the 2022 prime echelon are Calgary (tied at no. 3 with Zurich), Vancouver (no. 5) and Toronto (no. 8).
No. 5 Vancouver’s beautiful waterfront with the North Shore Mountains as a backdrop.
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No U.S. metropolis earned a spot among the many prime rankings. The largest movers up to now yr are Los Angeles (up 18 locations n0. 37) and Houston (down 25 locations to no. 56).
Since final yr, Oceania has seen the largest downward swing. Each Australia and New Zealand ranked extremely in 2021, when closed borders saved instances of Covid down. “Nonetheless, this modified as a extra infectious Covid-19 wave struck in late 2021, which made closed borders much less of a protection,” in keeping with the report.
In 2021, Auckland topped the World Liveability Index; this yr town has plummeted to thirty third place. Equally, final yr Australia had 4 cities within the prime 10 — Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth — whereas this yr solely Melbourne held on, eking out a tie for tenth place with Osaka, Japan. The opposite Australian cities fared no higher than twenty seventh place.
Kyiv was not assessed this yr following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Moscow and St Petersburg fell within the rankings over “censorship” and the influence of western sanctions.
No. 8 Toronto is Canada’s largest metropolis, and likewise one among its most livable.
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Wars, conflicts and terrorism overwhelm the rating’s backside 10 cities, of which seven are within the Center East and Africa. Among the many least livable cities are Damascus, Syria; Tripoli, Libya; Lagos, Nigeria and Algiers, Algeria.
Looking forward to subsequent yr, the EIU shall be keeping track of how rising costs all over the world impacts livability. “This sharp spike in inflation will put high quality of life in lots of cities in danger, notably if there are additionally interruptions to meals and gas provides attributable to the warfare in Ukraine,” mentioned the report. “Both residents shall be pressured to pay a lot increased costs (making it more durable to benefit from the tradition and surroundings of their cities) or governments will tackle extra of the burden (which can threat their skill to offer high-quality public companies).”