Announcement

Australia Dominates Most Liveable Cities 2026

Australia has once again cemented its reputation as one of the world's best places to live, with three Australian cities earning places in the top 10 of the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2026 Global Liveability Index.

Melbourne leads the nation, ranked third in the world, followed closely by Sydney in fourth and Adelaide in eighth. Perth also performed strongly in 15th place, while Brisbane ranked 16th. Only Copenhagen and Vienna finished ahead of Melbourne in this year's global rankings.

Australia among the world's most liveable nations

Published annually by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the Global Liveability Index compares 173 cities across five key categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

Melbourne once again topped the Australian rankings, receiving perfect scores for healthcare and education while maintaining its long-standing reputation as one of the world's most liveable cities.

Sydney strengthened Australia's standing with a fourth-place finish, while Adelaide's continued rise into eighth place means Australia now boasts three cities in the global top 10 - more than any other country. Perth (15th) and Brisbane (16th) also remain comfortably within the world's top 20.

2026 The Economist's Global Liveability Index - Top 10

1. Copenhagen, Denmark
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Sydney, Australia
5. Zurich, Switzerland
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Osaka, Japan
8. Adelaide, Australia
9. Vancouver, Canada
10. Tokyo, Japan

Economist's Global Liveability Index Report

Download Full Report (PDF)