Calgary is in the top 10 most livable cities in the world, but has dropped in its ranking from last year, a new report suggests.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index of 2023, Calgary ranked number seven, falling behind Vancouver and a host of other international cities.
The Alberta metropolis earned a score of 96.8, less than one point behind Vancouver’s 97.3. In 2022, Calgary finished third behind Copenhagen and Vienna.
Toronto finished ninth overall with a rating of 96.5.
The report’s top spot went to Vienna, followed by Copenhagen, Denmark, Melbourne, and Sydney, Australia.
“The Austrian capital slipped down our rankings in 2021, when its famous museums and restaurants faced restrictions to contain the pandemic, but this was a rare slip-up for a city that has now ranked top in eight of the past ten six-monthly surveys,” the report says.
“Vienna tops the rankings for 2023, owing to its winning combination of stability, good culture and entertainment, reliable infrastructure, and exemplary education and health services. It has occupied this position regularly over the past several years, with only the COVID-19 pandemic causing the city to vacate its place at the top spot.”
The report also noted that scores dropped in some cities, like Athens and cities in France, due to civil unrest.
“Elsewhere, inflation, dissatisfaction with working conditions, and occasional shortages of goods have sparked wage strikes and protests.”
Israel, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Peru were meanwhile affected by waves of protests “fueled by high petrol and food prices or allegations of government corruption.”
“Strains on public order and economic headwinds have also increased instances of crime in some cities, and these will continue to be a risk for the future. All of this suggests that stability scores in our Liveability Index are unlikely to recover quickly,” the index said.
