Livability

Vienna ranked the most livable city in the world in 2022 and 2023^[1].

Livability or liveability is the degree to which a place is good for living.^[2] Livability refers to the concerns that are related to the long-term wellbeing of individuals and communities. It encompasses factors like neighborhood amenities, including parks, open space, walkways, grocery shops and restaurants as well as environmental quality, safety and health. It also incorporates things like cost and friendliness. These features contribute to the pleasantness and accessibility of communities.^[3] Additionally, livability considers the availability and quality of public transport, educational institutions and healthcare facilities. It also considers the overall cultural and social atmosphere of a place, including the presence of diverse recreational activities and community engagement opportunities. All these factors combined create an environment that enhances the overall quality of life for residents.

Researchers studying urban planning have increasingly embraced livability themes in recent decades. However, there is no universally accepted definition of livability, with each academic offering a little bit of variation. Various definitions result from the fact that, depending on their study specialties, different academics approach the idea of livability in different ways. According to many scholars, livability is a difficult notion to describe and quantify.^[3]^[4]^[5] This is because livability encompasses a wide range of factors such as access to amenities, safety, environmental quality and social cohesion. Additionally, the nature of livability and the differences between each urban environment make it challenging to establish a standardized measure that applies universally across diverse urban contexts.

City livability is assessed annually by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and tracked through its global livability ranking. In 2023, Vienna in Austria ranked first for the second year in a row as the most livable city.^[1]

^ ^a ^b "The world's most liveable cities in 2023". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
^ "Cambridge.". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004-09-23. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/91103. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ^a ^b Wheeler, Stephen (2013-06-11). Planning for Sustainability: Creating Livable, Equitable and Ecological Communities (2 ed.). London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203134559. ISBN 978-0-203-13455-9.
^ Balsas, Carlos J.L. (February 2004). "Measuring the livability of an urban centre: an exploratory study of key performance indicators". Planning Practice and Research. 19 (1): 101–110. doi:10.1080/0269745042000246603. ISSN 0269-7459. S2CID 154330917.
^ Heylen, Kristof (July 2006). "Liveability in social housing: three case studies in Flanders". ENHR Conference'Housing in an Expanding Europe: Theory, Policy, Implementation and Participation.

[:3-1] "The world's most liveable cities in 2023". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-07-06.

[2] "Cambridge.". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004-09-23. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/91103. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[:0-3] Wheeler, Stephen (2013-06-11). Planning for Sustainability: Creating Livable, Equitable and Ecological Communities (2 ed.). London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203134559. ISBN 978-0-203-13455-9.

[4] Balsas, Carlos J.L. (February 2004). "Measuring the livability of an urban centre: an exploratory study of key performance indicators". Planning Practice and Research. 19 (1): 101–110. doi:10.1080/0269745042000246603. ISSN 0269-7459. S2CID 154330917.

[5] Heylen, Kristof (July 2006). "Liveability in social housing: three case studies in Flanders". ENHR Conference'Housing in an Expanding Europe: Theory, Policy, Implementation and Participation.

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