European cities lead quality of life in global ranking
Four European cities have secured positions among the world's top ten urban centres, driven by superior quality of life and institutional governance, according to the latest Oxford Economics Global Cities Index.
London, Paris, Dublin, and Zurich represent Europe in the global top ten. The United States dominates the upper tier with five metropolitan areas led by New York, while Tokyo stands as the sole Asian city in the elite cohort. No urban centers from the Republic of Moldova were included in the 1,000-city evaluation.
North American and European metropolitan areas claim 78 of the world's top 100 spots. European cities account for 44 of those positions, alongside 30 from the United States and four from Canada.
Transatlantic strengths and housing pressures
“In the US, high scores in the economy and human capital categories push them higher. In Europe, by contrast, it is about performance in the quality of life, environment, and governance categories,” said Liam Sides, head of City Services at Oxford Economics.
While New York earned the maximum score for economic power, London led the worldwide index in human capital, bolstered by premier universities and skilled global talent. However, both metropolises, alongside Dublin, saw their quality-of-life ratings dampened by elevated housing costs.
Paris scored remarkably high in living standards, whereas Oslo achieved the highest governance and environmental marks among leading European and American hubs.
Regional rankings across Eastern Europe
In Eastern Europe, Bucharest ranked 214th globally, recording its strongest marks in economic strength and quality of life, but lagging in human capital and environmental metrics. The Romanian university hub of Iași placed 486th, benefiting from sound governance while trailing in living standards.
Despite facing persistent Russian bombardment, Kyiv placed higher than Moscow in the overall standings. The Ukrainian capital ranked 304th, posting balanced scores in economic resilience and human capital, while Moscow placed 313th, weighed down by poor governance marks.
The comprehensive index evaluated the economic strengths, structural vulnerabilities, and growth potential of 1,000 major cities worldwide.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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