New Delhi has been ranked 120th out of 173 cities in the latest Global Liveability Index, placing it ahead of Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru, which were ranked 121st, 123rd and 127th, respectively.

The index, released this week by The Economist Intelligence Unit, assessed 173 cities on liveability parameters and kept Copenhagen at the top spot, followed by Vienna and Melbourne in second and third place.

Delhi and Mumbai did not move from their positions last year.

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Not quite the triumph the city had hoped for

The report pointed to a mixed global picture, noting that 10 Chinese cities improved their ranking compared with 2025. It also said Western Europe remained the strongest region for liveability, though its average score had stagnated, while Asia’s overall score had risen.

The findings place India’s major metros in the lower half of the index, underscoring persistent challenges in urban quality of life, public services and day-to-day liveability compared with leading global cities.

The wider world

The report also said, “The Iran war has undermined stability across the Gulf,” highlighting how geopolitical tensions affected the broader regional picture in the index.

Srikanth Viswanathan, chief executive officer of Janaagraha, said a poorer ranking carries wider economic implications. “A worse ranking means we become less attractive to global investors and talent – we need to make our cities stronger and more liveable,” he said.

Can Delhi truly climb the table without deeper reforms?

With all four Indian metros continuing to trail the world’s most liveable cities, the latest ranking again puts urban governance, infrastructure and city planning under scrutiny.

For Delhi, the unchanged position at 120 suggests that incremental improvements have not yet translated into a significant shift in global perception or performance.

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FAQs

Q1: What is the Global Liveability Index?

The Global Liveability Index is an annual ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit that evaluates cities based on stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education and infrastructure.

Q2: What was Delhi’s rank in the latest Global Liveability Index?

Delhi ranked 120th out of 173 cities in the latest Global Liveability Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit.