Algiers Ranks 3rd Least Livable city in the world
In the recently released Global Liveability Index 2024 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Algiers ranks 3rd least livable city in the world. The city is ranked at position 171 out of 173 ranked cities. The ranking, which evaluates 173 cities globally, assesses various factors including healthcare, culture and environment, stability, infrastructure, and education.
The EIU, a sister organization to The Economist, uses these criteria to determine the livability of cities, providing insights into which urban areas offer the best and worst living conditions. Algiers, despite its historical and cultural significance, faces numerous challenges that have significantly impacted its livability score.
2024’s Global Liveability Index: The top 10
The top of the list was dominated by Vienna, Austria, which was crowned the most livable city in the world for the third consecutive year. Vienna achieved perfect scores in healthcare, infrastructure, stability, and education but was marked slightly lower in culture and environment due to a lack of significant sporting events. Other cities that performed well include Copenhagen, Denmark, in second place, and Zurich, Switzerland, which moved up to third place from sixth.
Western Europe performed well overall, with an average score of 92 out of 100 for 30 cities, although the region saw a decline in stability scores due to increased protests and crime. North America achieved the highest average score for education, though infrastructure scores were lower than the previous year due to housing crises, particularly in Canada.
Top 10 cities
- Vienna, Austria
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Melbourne, Australia
- Calgary, Canada
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Sydney, Australia
- Vancouver, Canada
- Osaka, Japan
- Auckland, New Zealand
2024’s Global Liveability Index: The Bottom 10
At the bottom of the list, Damascus, Syria remains the least livable city in the world, a position it has held since 2013 due to ongoing conflict and severe humanitarian issues. Tripoli, Libya, and Algiers follow, struggling with political instability, economic challenges, and inadequate infrastructure.
Algiers’ low ranking highlights the pressing issues faced by the city. Economic instability, high unemployment, social unrest, and insufficient public services contribute to the challenging living conditions.
Surprisingly, Tripoli scored better than Algiers in the infrastructure index (41.1 vs 30.4) despite the recent civil war in Libya. This calls into question the methodology of such a survey and whether the results have been calibrated in a scientific way.
Bottom 10 cities
- Damascus, Syria
- Tripoli, Libya
- Algiers, Algeria
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Karachi, Pakistan
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- Kyiv, Ukraine
- Caracas, Venezuela
