EU ranks Europe’s most livable cities. The winner isn’t within the EU

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Do you reside in a European metropolis? Ever puzzled if the grass is greener elsewhere?

We reside in grey and damp Brussels so have clearly thought lengthy and arduous about that, and helpfully the European Fee has produced a related report on the standard of life in European cities across the Continent.

The 112-page report relies on the outcomes of a survey performed between January and April 2023 with a complete of 71,153 residents from 83 cities throughout the EU, European Free Commerce Affiliation (EFTA) international locations, the UK, the Western Balkans and Turkey.

It discovered that about 9 in 10 individuals are glad with dwelling of their metropolis. Not unhealthy, proper? However whereas the general satisfaction stays excessive, final yr’s outcomes present a slight decline in contrast with the 2019 survey, the final time the Fee launched the same report.

However others, in fact, aren’t glad. Residents in Istanbul, Athens and Palermo report a lot decrease ranges of satisfaction. However that’s one other story for one more time …

For now, let’s dig into the highest 10 (and take notes for shifting day).

10. Cluj-Napoca, Romania

The capital of Romania’s Transylvania area and the second-most populous metropolis within the nation can be an excellent place to reside, apparently. In Cluj-Napoca, 94 % of residents mentioned they had been glad with dwelling within the metropolis. Dwelling to a booming tech sector, it additionally ranks second for job alternatives, with 73 % of residents saying it’s straightforward to discover a good job within the metropolis.

9. Braga, Portugal

This Portuguese metropolis was named one of the best European vacation spot in 2021. Nevertheless it’s not solely an excellent spot for vacationers: Residents like it too, with 94 % of these surveyed saying they’re glad with dwelling of their metropolis. Braga can be thought-about a protected metropolis (84 % of individuals surveyed mentioned they really feel snug strolling alone at night time) and an excellent place to reside for immigrants, for older individuals and households with younger youngsters.

8. Rostock, Germany

Within the coastal metropolis of Rostock in Germany, 94 % of residents surveyed mentioned they’re glad with dwelling there. Rostock can be an excellent place for older individuals and households with younger youngsters to reside (second- and sixth-best in Europe, respectively). Eighty-five % of individuals surveyed mentioned they’re glad with their private job scenario; town ranks first in Europe on that metric.

7. Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva is available in seventh, with 95 % of individuals surveyed being glad with dwelling there. Whereas Geneva ranks excessive in a number of different classes (83 % satisfaction with job scenario), it does rank final for housing affordability, with solely 8 % of individuals surveyed saying it’s straightforward to search out good housing at an affordable worth of their metropolis. This could come as no shock: Does anybody bear in mind the viral story of the United Nations’ unpaid intern who camped on the shores of Lake Geneva as a result of he couldn’t afford housing (on a nonexistent wage)?

6. Stockholm, Sweden

It appears to be like as if the unforgiving Nordic temperatures are not any hassle for the individuals of Stockholm, which ranks sixth with 95 % of individuals glad. Stockholm is general thought-about an excellent place for individuals from the LGBTQ+ neighborhood to reside in (it ranks seventh in Europe). However like Geneva, not many residents assume it’s straightforward to search out reasonably priced housing.  

5. Gdańsk, Poland

A Polish metropolis with tons of historic significance and residential to one of many Baltic Sea’s largest ports, Gdańsk additionally has quite a lot of glad individuals (95 %). It is usually seen as an excellent place for immigrants from different international locations to reside and 92 % of individuals surveyed mentioned they had been glad with cultural amenities within the metropolis.

4. Leipzig, Germany

A shock close to the highest of the checklist! It’s the up-and-coming Leipzig in Jap Germany, with once more 95 % of glad residents. Folks additionally see Leipzig as a metropolis appropriate for households with younger youngsters and 83 % mentioned they’re glad with air high quality within the metropolis.

3. Copenhagen, Denmark

Time for the highest three. You may know Copenhagen for its Little Mermaid statue — the principle vacationer attraction — however do you know it’s additionally Europe’s third-most livable metropolis? Ninety-six % of residents mentioned they’re joyful dwelling there. Copenhagen can be a protected metropolis, however residents mentioned they discover it arduous to search out reasonably priced housing. Enjoyable reality: Copenhagen may simply be Europe’s least corrupt metropolis, with solely 20 % of residents saying that there’s graft within the metropolis’s native public administration.

2. Groningen, Netherlands

Groningen is house to the largest pub in Europe (it seats over 3,700 individuals), which could clarify the excessive satisfaction degree: 96 % of individuals say they’re joyful to reside there (and who wouldn’t be?). Groningen is seen as an excellent place for immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, with a number of inexperienced and public areas. It’s additionally thought-about to be clear and protected, with 86 % of these surveyed saying they really feel protected strolling alone at night time and that “most individuals of their metropolis may be trusted.”

… now drumroll for the No. 1 most livable metropolis in Europe …

1. Zurich, Switzerland

Are we stunned? Zurich was Europe’s most livable metropolis in 2023, with a satisfaction charge of 97 %. Residents of Zurich are pleased with their monetary scenario, with their job, with public transport, with well being care providers, with air high quality … with just about every little thing. It’s additionally one of the best European metropolis for LGBTQ+ individuals and older individuals. Only one factor, once more: Solely 11 % of individuals agree that it’s straightforward to search out good housing at an affordable worth.

Bonus: Brussels, Belgium

Should you puzzled the place Brussels ranked on the checklist, our EU capital makes the highest 10 for satisfaction with well being care providers (87 %) and for some native administrative procedures (76 % of residents mentioned procedures utilized by town’s native public administration had been simple and straightforward to know). And it’s not a lonely place: In line with the survey, solely 8 % of individuals mentioned they’d felt lonely within the earlier 4 weeks.

However on the general checklist, it got here in 53rd place. Sigh.