Two Canadian Cities Among the World's Most Livable in 2024: Toronto Drops Out of Top 10

The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) has published its annual report on the world's most livable cities, highlighting two Canadian cities prominently.

EIU's Global Livability Ranking

Each year, the EIU assesses and ranks cities based on stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. These factors combine to form the Global Livability Ranking.

Canadian Cities' Performance in 2024

In 2024, Calgary improved from seventh to fifth place, tying with Geneva. Vancouver, which was fifth in 2023, is now seventh. Toronto, unfortunately, dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in three years, moving from ninth to 12th.

Vienna and Copenhagen retained the top two spots for the third consecutive year. Unlike 2023, which had 11 cities in the top 10 due to a tie, 2024 features a straightforward top 10 list.

EIU's Livability Criteria

The EIU livability index is based on five criteria:

1. Stability: Examines petty and violent crime, terror threats, military conflict, and civil unrest.
2. Healthcare: Assesses private and public healthcare quality, drug availability, and general health indicators from World Bank data.
3. Culture and Environment: Considers climate, corruption, censorship, social and religious restrictions, and availability of sports, culture, food, and consumer services.
4. Education: Evaluates the quality and availability of private and public education, using World Bank data.
5. Infrastructure: Looks at road networks, public transport, international links, water and energy provision, telecommunications, and housing quality.
   
   

Calgary: Canada's Most Livable City

Calgary scored an impressive 96.8 overall, performing exceptionally in stability, healthcare, and education (with perfect scores of 100). However, it scored slightly lower in culture, environment, and infrastructure, though still above 90. Calgary is a popular destination for newcomers due to its low taxes, affordable rents, and excellent schools.

Vancouver: Consistently High Ranking

Despite dropping two places, Vancouver remains a top livable city with a score of 96.6. It excels in education and healthcare (both scoring 100) but has lower scores in culture, environment, stability, and infrastructure. Persistent housing issues have impacted its ranking, but its strong healthcare, education, and cultural attributes maintain its high position.

Toronto: A Significant Drop

Toronto fell to 12th place in 2024, its first time out of the top 10 since 2021. While it traditionally scores well in stability, healthcare, and education, ongoing housing issues, including rising costs and limited availability, have caused its ranking to decline.

Conclusion

Calgary and Vancouver continue to shine as two of the world's most livable cities, despite challenges. Toronto's drop highlights the impact of housing issues on livability. For those considering immigration to Canada, these rankings provide valuable insights into the best cities for quality of life.