The Malaysian capital city, Kuala Lumpur, makes a significant stride in the latest Global Liveability Index, as announced by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Positioned among the top 10 cities that witnessed a major leap in the rankings, Kuala Lumpur rose an impressive 19 spots to rank 94th in 2023.
This remarkable movement earned Kuala Lumpur the title of the seventh-largest upward mover with a liveability score of 74.3 out of 100. Post-pandemic developments have played a crucial role in this upward mobility, as cities across the globe embrace the return to normalcy.
Especially noteworthy is the resurgence of education and the reduced strain on healthcare systems. This is not limited to Kuala Lumpur; improvements are apparent in numerous developing cities across Asia and the Middle East. As Upasana Dutt, Head of the Liveability Index at EIU, points out, the eastward shift of the world’s political and economic axis hints at a gradual upward movement in the liveability rankings for cities in these regions.
Also read: Work-Life Balance: A Struggle for the Majority of Malaysians
This year’s index also unveiled that the average index score reached 76.2 across 172 cities, marking the highest in 15 years. However, the study reveals a mixed bag of results; while healthcare scores have surged, stability has seen a marginal dip. The decreasing stability is indicative of sporadic civil unrest, rising crime rates, and escalating cost-of-living crises in several cities.
Looking beyond Kuala Lumpur, the top three cities that exhibited a significant rise in rankings include Wellington and Auckland in New Zealand, and Perth in Australia. Other notable rank risers in Asia include Hanoi in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Hong Kong.
The EIU’s ranking mechanism considers five key aspects: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The overall assessment comprises qualitative and quantitative variables evaluated by expert in-house analysts and a field correspondent from each city.
The Index ranks 173 cities in total, with Vienna, Copenhagen, and Melbourne holding the top three positions for liveability. Conversely, Algiers, Tripoli, and Damascus were found at the bottom of the list.
News source: Malay Mail
