This past year has been tumultuous. With the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the rise of far-right extremists in the US, and terror attacks reverberating across the globe, 2017 has changed the world.
However, there are a number of cities around the world where citizens are happy, social services, are improving, and economies are growing.
These places routinely make the list of the world’s most livable cities. Using factors such as crime, healthcare, culture, and access to transportation, the Economist has put together its annual list of the cities that have the highest standard of living.
And, despite all the chaotic news, the average standard of living still managed to rise in a number of major cities around the world – which helped bring the global average livability metric up for the first time in a decade, reports The Economist.
Cities such as Melbourne, Australia, and Vancouver, Canada, have been mainstays on the list for years, while Sydney, Australia lost its spot in the top ten this year. If you really
Here are the top ten most livable cities in 2017:
#1: Melbourne, Australia
Victorian era buildings on Collins Street in Melbourne via Wikipedia
#2: Vienna, Austria
Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna via Wikipedia
#3: Vancouver, Canada
Downtown Vancouver as seen from the Harbour Centre via Wikipedia
#4: Toronto, Canada
Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto ( Credit: Haljackey via Wikipedia)
#5: Calgary, Canada (tied for 5)
Flickr / Creative Commons
#5: Adelaide, Australia (tied for 5)
The Westpac building in the background in Adelaide. (Wikimedia Commons)
#6: Perth, Australia
#7: Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland City from Mt Victoria, Devonport via WIkipedia
#8: Helsinki, Finland
Wikipedia
#9: Hamburg, Germany
Carsten Frenzl/Flickr