The world's top 55 cities offering the best quality of life

(New York is the base city with a score of 100 points)

2005 Rank

2004 Rank

Geneva

City

Switzerland

Country

Points
106.5

Zurich

Switzerland

106.5

Vancouver

Canada

106.0

Vienna

Austria

106.0

Frankfurt

Germany

105.5

10

Munich

Germany

105.5

12

Dsseldorf

Germany

105.5

Auckland

New Zealand

105.0

Bern

Switzerland

105.0

Copenhagen

Denmark

105.0

Sydney

Australia

105.0

12

10

Amsterdam

Netherlands

104.5

13

13

Brussels

Belgium

104.0

14

12

Melbourne

Australia

103.5

14

15

Berlin

Germany

103.5

14

15

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

103.5

14

15

Stockholm

Sweden

103.5

14

12

Toronto

Canada

103.5

14

15

Wellington

New Zealand

103.5

20

20

Ottawa

Canada

103.0

20

20

Perth

Australia

103.0

22

20

Nrnberg

Germany

102.5

22

23

Dublin

Ireland

102.5

22

24

Montreal

Canada

102.5

25

24

Adelaide

Australia

102.0

25

24

Calgary

Canada

102.0

25

24

Hamburg

Germany

102.0

25

24

Helsinki

Finland

102.0

25

24

Honolulu

USA

102.0

25

24

San Francisco

USA

102.0

31

24

Brisbane

Australia

101.5

31

32

Oslo

Norway

101.5

31

32

Paris

France

101.5

34

34

Singapore

Singapore

101.0

34

34

Tokyo

Japan

101.0

36

36

Lyon

France

100.5

36

36

Yokohama

France

100.5

36

42

Boston

USA

100.5

39

36

London

UK

100.0

39

39

Kobe

Japan

100.0

39

39

New York

USA

100.0

42

39

Madrid

Spain

99.0

42

42

Portland

USA

99.0

42

45

Barcelona

Spain

99.0

42

50

Washington DC

USA

99.0

46

44

Winston

USA

98.5

46

45

Lexington

USA

98.5

46

45

Osaka

Japan

98.5

46

45

Pittsburgh

USA

98.5

46

45

Seattle

USA

98.5

51

50

Chicago

USA

98.0

51

50

Milan

Italy

53

52

Lisbon

Portugal

97.5

53

52

Tsukuba

Japan

97.5

98

Safety and security

Luxembourg ranks as the worlds top city for personal safety and security, according to a quality of life
survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. The city scores 122.5 followed by Helsinki, Bern, Geneva,
and Zurich which take joint second place with scores of 120.
Scores for personal safety and security are based on relationships with other countries, internal stability, and

crime, including terrorism. Law enforcement, censorship, and limitations on personal freedom are also taken
into account. (See Notes below for details.)
Cities are ranked against New York as the base city, which has a rating of 100. The analysis is part of a
worldwide quality of life survey, covering 215 cities, to help governments and major companies to place
employees on international assignments.
The Japanese cities of Omuta, Kastuyama, Tsukuba, and Yokkaichi score highest in Asia (joint 14th place
with scores of 112.5), while Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver rank top in North America, in
joint 18th place (score 112).
The top-ranking cities for personal safety and security are in politically stable countries with good
international relations and sustainable economic growth, said Slagin Parakatil, Senior Researcher at
Mercer. Most of the low-scoring cities are in countries with civil unrest, little law enforcement, and high
levels of crime.
The worlds least secure city is Baghdad (Iraq), with a score of 5 due to ongoing civil unrest and threats of
attack in the city. Other low-ranking cities include Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, Bangui in Central African
Republic, and Port Harcourt and Lagos in Nigeria , which score 24, 26.5, 32.5, and 32.5 respectively. These
countries continue to experience political turmoil and low economic growth.
Western Europe
Many Western European cities appear at the top of the rankings. Luxembourg scores highest for personal
safety and security, followed by Swiss and Scandinavian cities. Other high-scoring cities include Vienna,
ranked 6th with a score of 116, followed by Dsseldorf, Munich, Nrnberg, Frankfurt, and Oslo, sharing 8th
place with scores of 113.
In contrast, Athens, Rome, and London appear at the lower end of the rankings for this region, at positions
83, 74, and 69 respectively (score 93.5, 95.5, and 99), due to high levels of petty crime. Madrid also scores
relatively low, sharing 69th position with London, due to terrorism.
Eastern Europe
Cities in Eastern European cities generally rank lower than those in Western Europe. Ljubljana in Slovenia
scores highest for personal safety and security, at position 41 with a rating of 105, followed by Bratislava in
Slovakia and Prague in the Czech Republic in joint 58th place scoring 100.
Some Eastern European cities have gained higher scores in the rankings due to their accession to the
European Union, said Mr Parakatil. There are noticeable differences in personal safety and security scores
between many Eastern and Central European cities.
Russian cities score poorly due to high crime rates, economic turmoil, and lack of internal stability. Moscow,
Novosibirsk, Kazan, and St Petersburg take positions 198, 179, 179, and 175 respectively, with scores of
41.5, 52.5, 52.5, and 53.5.
North America
All of the Canadian cities covered by the survey appear in the top 20 rankings for personal safety and
security. Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver rank jointly in position 18 with scores of 112.
In the US, Honolulu, Houston, Lexington, San Francisco, and Winston Salem rank highest in joint 45th
position with scores of 104. Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Portland, and New York all
follow in 58th place with scores of 100. The lowest scoring city in North America is Atlanta, ranked 90 with a
score of 90.5, due to street crime and burglary.
In Mexico, Monterrey and Mexico City rank 87 and 126, scoring 92 and 72.5 respectively.
South America
Cities in South America tend to feature much lower in the rankings than those in North America. Growing
unemployment and political instability in these regions have led to high crime levels.
Santiago in Chile ranks highest in 94th place with a score of 90. Buenos Aires in Argentina ranks 115 with a
score of 77.5, while So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil take 148th and 167th position respectively, with
scores of 63.5 and 56. Bogot and Medellin in Colombia and Caracas in Venezuela rank lowest in positions
210, 205, and 193 respectively (score 33, 37.5, and 48) due to crime including kidnappings.
Mr Parakatil concluded: As globalisation increases, security and relationships with other countries become

more critical to overall quality of life standards in cities across the world.
Survey methodology
The data for the 2005 survey was largely collected between September and November 2004 and was regularly updated to take account of
changing circumstances.
The overall quality of life ranking is based on an evaluation of 39 quality of life criteria. The covered topic in 2005, personal safety and security,
is based on an evaluation of six criteria that have been drawn from the overall quality of life survey. New York has been used as the base score
for quality of life with a score of 100 points.
Mercers study is based on detailed assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of life determinants, grouped in the following categories:
Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc)
Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)
Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc)
Schools and education (standard and availability of schools, etc)
Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc)
Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc)
Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)
Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)