Top 5 best cities to live in 2016


08/18/2016

Economist’s Intelligence Unit has made a rating of best cities to live in. This is Global Liveability Ranking, which evaluates 140 cities around the world in five categories. Six cities in the top ten are located in Australia and Canada.



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The cities were evaluated on parameters such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Cost of living was not taken into account.

Those that have entered the top ten, have one common feature. They all are located in relatively rich countries with good education and health systems, and high-quality infrastructure. Besides, the biggest part of the rating’s leaders is medium-sized settlements with low population density.

5. Calgary, Canada

Number of points out of 100: 96.6

Calgary has a population of 1,096,833 inhabitants. The city is the third largest population in the country and largest in Alberta.

The population including suburbs amounts to 1,214,839 people, and the Calgary metropolitan area is the fifth largest in Canada.

This is a modern yet somehow an old-fashioned city. You can see traditional culture everywhere in numerous saloons, hotels, western bars, night clubs, football and hockey. Calgary is Canada’s center of country music.

4. Toronto, Canada

Number of points out of 100: 97.2

Toronto is the largest city in the country, the administrative center of the province of Ontario. Population - 2,615,060 inhabitants. Together with the cities of Mississauga, Brampton, Markham and others, it forms agglomeration Greater Toronto Area with a population of 5715 thousand people.

Toronto, also known as the "economic engine" of Canada, is considered one of the world’s leading cities, and presides in the region and at the national and international levels.

This is a multicultural city since nearly half of the residents have immigrated from other countries. 

Toronto’s distinctive feature is an established tradition of supporting national cultures and customs of immigrant populations. Unlike many other cities with large immigrant populations, the cultural assimilation is expressed softly here. At the same time, it is one of the safest big cities of the Americas.

3. Vancouver, Canada

Number of points out of 100: 97.3

Vancouver is located on the west coast of Canada, The city is the largest settlement of British Columbia and the third largest in Canada.

The population numbers 603 502 people. The Greater Vancouver is home to over 2.3 million people, which is the third largest conurbation in Canada.

Vancouver is the most ethnically and linguistically diverse city in the country: 52% of its residents do not consider English their native language.

Above that, this is the largest industrial center of the country. The local maritime terminal is the largest and the most diversified in Canada, with sales turnover of more than 75 billion Canadian dollars per year.

2. Vienna, Austria

Number of points out of 100: 97.4

Vienna's population is 1.73 million, and the suburbs increase the number to 2.3 million (more than 25% of Austria's population). Thus, Vienna is the largest city by population in Austria, occupying the 11th place among the largest cities in the European Union.

This is a cultural, economic and political center of Austria.

Vienna is the third city of the seat of the United Nations after New York and Geneva.

Vienna International Centre (the so-called UNO-City) includes the IAEA, UNODC, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and others. Above that, the city was chosen for headquarters of international organizations such as OPEC and the OSCE.

1. Melbourne, Australia

Number of points out of 100: 97.5

The city is considered one of the major commercial, industrial and cultural centers of Australia. Melbourne is also often called sporting and cultural capital of the country, as it hosts many sporting and cultural events.

Melbourne is a modern multi-ethnic and multicultural community.

Almost a quarter of Victoria state's population is born outside Australia, and Melbourne is home to people from 233 countries, who speak 180 languages and preach 116 different religions. 

Despite the fact that overall demographic situation in Victoria is subject to fluctuations, the statistical service of Melbourne noted a steady increase in number of the city’s inhabitants of about 50 thousand people a year since 2003.

Melbourne is now a lodestone for new immigrants from abroad, overtaking Sydney on this indicator.

In addition, the city is currently growing at the expense of immigrants from other major cities in Australia because of more affordable housing prices and a relatively low cost of living. 

source: economist.com