The world’s most liveable cities 2022: Copenhagen takes the top spot
Reports of the death of the city have been greatly exaggerated. For a while, it looked as though the social shifts brought on by the pandemic might see a mass exodus from urban to rural, as people realised they didn’t need to be chained to the city to do their jobs, and could instead live out their escape-to-the-country fantasies in rustic, back-to-nature bliss. This, however, hasn’t materialised. In fact, the end of lockdowns and the reopening of the world has made many city dwellers fall in love with urban life all over again. For us at Zetteler, for example, the joy of reconnecting with London’s vivid and varied culture – exhibitions, restaurants, events, other human people – has been a powerful reminder of what brought us all here to begin with.
So, at a time when many people have been rediscovering the joys of city life, Monocle’s annual Quality of Life Survey provides an important overview of what makes urban living so rewarding in the first place.
For 15 years, the survey of the world’s 25 most liveable cities has been conducted annually by Monocle’s international editors and contributors. The ranking is based on a multitude of factors, encompassing objective data such as crime rates, ambulance response times, employment figures, and income inequality. These data are tempered with direct-lived experience from Monocle’s global team of correspondents on the ground, and also considers any plans for forthcoming infrastructure improvements that might be in the civic pipeline.
Reflecting shifts in society and changing lifestyles, Monocle’s metrics have evolved over the years, ensuring the rankings take into account contemporary urban priorities. This year, for example, the team has introduced new data points to reflect changing working patterns after lockdown, rising costs of living and the growing importance of access to nature and the outdoors – represented through a roster of new metrics including hours of sunlight, quantity of affordable housing, and availability of places to swim.
Although the rankings are the result of complex fusion of multiple qualitative and quantitative factors – as well as lengthy and vociferous internal debate – the final list of the world’s top 25 cities is a straightforward expression of what matters most to urban dwellers today. “We think clean, safe cities that are simple to traverse, green, fun and easy to live and work in are best,” says Monocle editor Josh Fehnert. “In this respect, I don't think there will be too many dissenters.”
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The top 25
Published in its current (July) issue, Monocle’s shortlist names Copenhagen the world’s best city 2022 – a repeat victory for the Danish capital, which also topped the chart in 2021 and has been a fixture of the lists for many years. It’s a consistent high-scorer, largely thanks to the simple fact that it’s a city that actively puts people first, always looking for ways to make life better, easier and more rewarding for its residents.
“Copenhagen has consistently put pedestrians, bikes and people at the centre of the city and it has paid off. City hall cleaned up the harbour for swimming and benefits and provisions for citizens are generous. Copenhagen has kept independent retail and restaurants alive; it’s an exciting place for entrepreneurs, has world-leading museums and ambitious plans to green the city, recycle more and be a good place to live. It might not be as glamorous as some, but the way to the top of the pile is consistent, human-centred thinking, joined-up planning and creating spaces for neighbourhoods to thrive.” – Josh Fehnert, Editor
Zetteler’s head of strategy, Rupert Evans-Harding was in Copenhagen last month for 3daysofdesign, and had the opportunity to reflect on the city and how it compares to our own home in London. “The quality of life here is high,” Rupert wrote. “It feels like a human city. More cycling, more walking, more clean air…more time, perhaps; London really is a punk city. Loud, fast-moving, aggressive. Held together by safety pins. It’s a certain aesthetic but this place feels considerate and fresh in comparison. Writing this from a sailor’s garret in Gammelholm with a constant stream of cyclists passing by and just the sound of seagulls and smell of sea air…”
Copenhagen is joined in the top five by Zürich, Lisbon, Helsinki and Stockholm – all cities that are progressive in outlook, manageable in scale, ambitious in their future plans, and distinctive in their culture and character.
Here’s the full list:
1) Copenhagen
2) Zürich
3) Lisbon
4) Helsinki
5) Stockholm
6) Tokyo
7) Vienna
8) Sydney
9) Vancouver
10) Taipei
11) Munich
12) Seoul
13) Berlin
14) Amsterdam
15) Madrid
16) Auckland
17) Paris
18) Barcelona
19) Melbourne
20) Kyoto
21) Milan
22) Fukuoka
23) Oslo
24) Singapore
25) Brisbane
There is, of course, much more to the annual survey than the thrill of cities going to toe-to-toe in international competition; it is perhaps most valuable for the insight it provides into what we value about our urban environment, and as a compendium of some of the most fascinating projects for shaping human-centered cities that are fit for the future. From schemes to improve pedestrianisation or address growing population numbers to creative ways to nourish culture or reconnect with nature, if you’re an urban planner looking for ideas – or if you simply have an interest in how we as humans live together – these are the cities you should look to.
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