British magazine The Economist has rated Vienna as the second most-liveable city in the world after Vancouver, Canada. Vienna was tied with Geneva for second place last year.

No German city made the top ten.  Hamburg ranked 14th and Frankfurt came in at 19 based on 30 different criteria, including culture and environment, stability, infrastructure, health care and educational opportunities. The German capital Berlin followed closely at spot 22.

The Economist said residents of cities with 80 or more points on a scale of 100 had little to worry about in their daily lives.

Vancouver topped the survey with 98 points while Zimbabwean capital Harare had the fewest, 37.5.

Six of the ten most-liveable cities in the world are in Canada and Australia.

Helsinki was seventh, Geneva eighth and Zürich tied for ninth with Sydney.

Athens had the lowest ranking, 63rd, among European cities, with London, 51st and Rome, 52nd.

The news comes after a recent Mercer survey which ranked Vienna first in the world in terms of quality of life. Zurich had been in top spot for the last seven years. (Photo: View of Vancouver, B.C.)

Vienna's political stability and low risk of terror attacks over the last ten years have steadily increased Vienna's ranking in the Mercer survey, which covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees in international assignments.

Mercer’s rankings are based on an index of points. Vienna had 108.6, Baghdad at the bottom only 14.4. Cities are ranked against New York as the base city with an index of 100.

Austrian Times