Getty Images
|
In Mercer Consultings annual Quality of Living
Survey, Europe once again dominates the list of 215
countries around the world. The top three cities
are, by rank, Vienna, Zurich (last years winner),
and Geneva. Commonwealth nations fare pretty well,
too, winning 9 of the top 30 spots -- even though
London comes in only at 38. The U.S. also fares
poorly, barely making it into the top 30 with
Honolulu and San Francisco in the bottom two places.
The top city in Asia is Singapore, at no. 26. No
cities from Africa or South America are in the top
30. The bottom? Baghdad once again comes in at 215.
To find out which 30 global cities offer the best
quality of life, read on.
The World's Best Places to Live
2009
No. 1: Vienna, Austria
Mercer score: 108.6*
2008 rank: 2
GDP: $325 billion (2008 est.)**
Population: 1,664,146 (total city); 8,210,281 (total
country)
Life expectancy: 79.5
*The rankings are based on a point scoring index
established by Mercer Consultings 2009 Quality of
Living Survey, with Vienna scoring 108.6 and Baghdad
scoring 14.4. Cities are compared with New York as
the base city, with an index score of 100. The
quality-of-living survey covers 215 cities and is
conducted to help governments and major companies
place employees on international assignments. The
survey also identifies those cities with the highest
personal safety ranking based on internal stability,
crime, effectiveness of law enforcement, and
relationships with other countries.
**The World Factbook.Gross domestic product is
denominated in international dollars, which is based
on Purchasing Power Parity.
No. 2: Zurich, Switzerland
Mercer score: 108
2008 rank: 1
GDP: 309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,307,567 (total city); 7,604,467 (total
country)
Life expectancy: 80.85
No. 3: Geneva, Switzerland
Mercer score: 107.9
2008 rank: 2
GDP: $309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 438,177 (total city); 7,604,467 (total
country)
Life expectancy: 80.85
Getty Images
|
No. 4 (tie): Vancouver, Canada
Mercer score: 107.4
2008 rank: 4
GDP: $1.3 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 2,285,900 (total city); 33,487,208
(total country)
Life expectancy: 81.2
No. 4 (tie): Auckland, New Zealand
Mercer score: 107.4
2008 rank: 5
GDP: $116.6 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,303,068 (total city); 4,213,418 (total
country)
Life expectancy: 80.3
No. 6: Dusseldorf, Germany
Mercer score: 107.2
2008 rank: 6
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 581,858 (total city); 82,329,758 (total
country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
No. 7: Munich, Germany
Mercer score: 107
2008 rank: 7
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,300,000 (total city); 82,329,758
(total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
Getty Images
|
No. 8: Frankfurt, Germany
Mercer score: 106.8
2008 rank: 7
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 662,000 (total city); 82,329,758 (total
country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
No. 9: Bern, Switzerland
Mercer score: 106.5
2008 rank: 9
GDP: $309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 962,983 (total city); 7,604,467 (total
country)
Life expectancy: 80.85
No. 10: Sydney, Australia
Mercer score: 106.3
2008 rank: 10
GDP: $800.5 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 4,336,374 (total city); 21,262,641
(total country)
Life expectancy: 81.6
Click
here to see the full slide show.
