Global Liveability survey: Harare bottom ten of 173 cities; beaten by war-torn Ukraine capital

By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S capital city has again been ranked in the bottom ten in the latest global liveability survey, losing to war-hit Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

The annual survey is carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) which was established in 1946 and is part of the British magazine, The Economist.

The Global Liveability Index assesses cities in terms of stability (prevalence of crime and threat of instability), healthcare (availability and quality of both public and private healthcare services), culture and entertainment as well as infrastructure (quality of roads, public transportation, housing, energy and water provision).

The Index “assesses which locations around the world provide the best or worst living conditions,” explained the EIU. “Our liveability index quantifies the challenges that might be presented to an individual’s lifestyle in any given location.”

For 2023, Harare is in the bottom ten at 166 with an index score of 43.8; just one better than its 2022 ranking of 165.

Harare has long struggled with infrastructure disrepair, refuse collection challenges, water and energy supply problems while currently battling a cholera outbreak.

Given this background, the Zimbabwean capital’s ranking for 2023 is hardly a surprise.

Out of a possible 100 points, Harare scored 40.0 in terms of stability, 29.2 on healthcare, 35.7 on infrastructure while doing relatively better on education 66.7 as well as culture and environment 56.7.

Meanwhile, the Austrian capital, Vienna, topped the 2023 rankings “owing to its winning combination of stability, good culture and entertainment, reliable infrastructure, exemplary education and health services”, said the EIU report.

In second place was Copenhagen (Denmark) followed by Melbourne and Sydney (Australia), with Vancouver (Canada) in fifth place.

Overall, the survey noted that “as the world moves on from the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare and education services have improved across many cities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East”.