Luxembourg City Climbs to 11th Place in Global Livability Index 2025

Luxembourg City has surged ahead in the latest Global Livability Index 2025, climbing
six spots to claim 11th place, narrowly missing a coveted top-10 ranking among the
world’s most livable cities.

The annual index, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), evaluates cities
across five key categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and
infrastructure. Each category is scored out of 100 based on more than 30 qualitative
and quantitative indicators, providing a comprehensive picture of life in urban centres
across the globe.

This year, Copenhagen retained its title as the world’s most livable city, achieving a
near-perfect score of 98.0. European cities dominated the top of the chart, with Vienna
and Zurich tied in second place at 97.1, closely followed by Melbourne (97.0), Sydney
(96.6), Osaka and Auckland (96.0 each), Adelaide (95.9), and Vancouver (95.8).
Luxembourg City’s impressive 95.6 score marks a significant improvement from 2024,
underscoring its growing appeal as a clean, safe, and well-connected city with high-
quality public services and a strong international outlook.

At the bottom of the list, cities such as Dhaka (41.7), Tripoli (40.1), and Damascus
(30.7) continue to struggle with political instability and weak infrastructure. The biggest
leap was recorded by Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, which jumped 13 spots to 135th place.
Meanwhile, Calgary, Canada, saw the sharpest drop, falling from 5th to 18th despite
retaining a strong score of 94.7.

Luxembourg City, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is steeped in history
and charm. Founded in 963 AD when Count Siegfried acquired a rocky promontory
known as the Bock, the city developed around a fortified castle and quickly grew into a
strategic military stronghold. Its formidable fortifications earned it the nickname
“Gibraltar of the North” and made it a frequent target of conquest by major European
powers.

Over the centuries, the city was ruled by the Burgundians, Habsburgs, French,
Prussians, and eventually the independent Grand Duchy. Following the 1867 Treaty of
London, Luxembourg’s fortress was dismantled, paving the way for the modern city to
evolve.

Today, Luxembourg City is a multicultural hub, home to EU institutions, global finance
firms, and a vibrant arts scene. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town, dramatic cliffs, lush green
valleys, and trilingual population (Luxembourgish, French, and German) make it one of
Europe’s most distinctive capitals.

As its climb in the Livability Index shows, this small but powerful capital continues to
balance tradition and innovation, drawing residents and visitors alike with its high quality
of life.