Every year Mercer, one of the world’s largest , releases its Quality of Living Index, which looks at which cities provide the best quality of life. Yesterday it released 18th annual Mercer Quality of Living Survey.
Looking at 440 cities across the world, Mercer takes into account the following metrics to judge which cities made the list for the best quality of life:
- Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement)
- Economic environment (currency-exchange regulations, banking services)
- Socio-cultural environment (media availability and censorship, limitations on personal freedom)
- Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution)
- Schools and education (standards and availability of international schools)
- Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transportation, traffic congestion)
- Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure)
- Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars)
- Housing (rental housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services)
- Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)
German-speaking cities dominate the top 7 rankings, with Vienna joined by Zurich, Munich, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. And among the top 30 cities, besides Munich, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt occupying the top 7, Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Nürnberg are also listed.
South-East Asia cities were also on the list, with Singapore ranked 26, Tokyo at 44, while Hong Kong is at the position of 70, Shanghai at 101 and Beijing at 118.