Vancouver, British Columbia, has been placed ninth in the 2026 Global Liveability Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), making it the only North American city in the top‑10 list for a second consecutive year.
Top 10 most livable cities (2026)
The EIU evaluated 173 cities across five categories—stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure—to produce an overall livability score out of 100. The 2026 top‑10 includes four European cities, with the remaining spots occupied by cities in Oceania, Asia, and North America. Notably, Tokyo, Japan entered the list for the first time, while Auckland, New Zealand dropped out.
Vancouver’s standing
- Overall rank: 9th (up from 10th in 2025)
- Overall score: 96 (up from 95.8 in 2025)
- Category scores:
- Healthcare: 96 (up from 95.8)
- Culture and environment: 97 (down from 97.2)
- Infrastructure: 93 (up from 92.9)
- Education: 100 (perfect score)
Vancouver’s rise follows a dip from its peak position of 7th in 2024, when Calgary, Alberta ranked fifth. Historically, Vancouver held the top spot from 2002 to 2010 before gradually sliding to lower positions, though it has remained within the top‑10 for most of the period.
Ranking methodology
The EIU’s assessment uses 30 indicators grouped into five weighted categories:
| Category | Weight | Key indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | 25% | Petty and violent crime, terror threats, military conflict, civil unrest |
| Healthcare | 20% | Availability and quality of public and private care, access to over‑the‑counter drugs |
| Culture and environment | 25% | Climate comfort, corruption, censorship, social/religious restrictions, cultural and sporting amenities, food and consumer services |
| Education | 10% | Quality and availability of private and public education |
| Infrastructure | 20% | Road quality, public transport, international links, energy and water services, telecommunications, housing quality |
Each indicator is scored from 1 (intolerable) to 100 (ideal); category scores are weighted to produce the final livability rating, which is then classified as acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable, or intolerable.
The bottom‑10 cities in the index are largely affected by war or poverty, with Tehran (Iran), Kyiv (Ukraine), Karachi (Pakistan), Tripoli (Libya) and Damascus (Syria) occupying the lowest positions.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
