Zurich moved up to 7th position from 11th position in the latest Economist Intelligence Unit ranking published on Tuesday, compared with a similar survey from 2019.
Geneva now ranks 8th – up from 14th position – alongside the Australian city of Melbourne.
Six of the top ten cities in the ranking are in New Zealand and Australia, while many European and Canadian cities have fallen down the bi-annual list.
The most liveable city is Auckland in New Zealand, ahead of Osaka (Japan) and Adelaide (Australia), according to The Economist.
The authors of the survey note that the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in lockdowns, restrictions of cultural and sports events, and closures of schools and restaurants, have had a considerable impact on this year’s liveability score.
The top-ranked cities were able to contain the pandemic faster and lift restrictions earlier than other places, the authors said.
Both Zurich and Geneva remained attractive locations despite social restrictions still being in place in March.
The data for the latest survey was collected in February and March this year covering 140 cities across five areas: stability, healthcare, education, culture and environment as well as infrastructure.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
This content was published on
The watch industry had to contend with a weakening of its exports last year, which reached a volume of CHF25.9 billion ($28.5 billion).
Switzerland targets 65% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035
This content was published on
Switzerland has set an ambitious goal to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels.
Switzerland cuts foreign aid to Albania, Bangladesh and Zambia
This content was published on
This decision comes after the parliament allocated less funding for foreign aid in December than the government had requested.
Switzerland to end international adoptions by 2026
This content was published on
Swiss citizens will no longer be able to adopt children from abroad. The government plans to halt these adoptions to prevent potential abuses.
This content was published on
Cities in Switzerland, Canada, Australia and Austria are the most ideal destinations thanks to a widespread availability of goods and services, low personal risk and an effective infrastructure. The EIU’s “Liveability Ranking”, part of the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, assessed living conditions in 127 cities around the world. It looked at nearly 40 indicators…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.