Friday, December 5th 2014
The Economist Intelligence Unit conducted a livability survey to determine which cities around the world “provide the best or worst living conditions.”
Cities that tended to score the best on the survey were mid-size and located in wealthier countries with relatively low population densities. This environment, according to the report, “can foster a range of recreational activities without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure.”
Out of the top 10 cities, seven are located in Canada or Australia, which have population densities of 3.40 and 2.88 people per square kilometer respectively. Finland and New Zealand, which also have high-ranking cities, have 16 people per square km. The global average is 46.65 people per square km, and the U.S. average is 32 people per sq km, according to the report.
Sixty-four cities scored above an 80% — which means they are considered to be “in the top tier of livability.”