“Somos el mejor país de Chile” (“We are the best country in Chile”)—a tongue-in-cheek meme that often circulates on social media—gains new meaning with the release of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2025. Santiago, the capital of Chile, remains among the best-ranked cities in Latin America and is within the top 50 globally. However, its relative position has slightly declined, with Buenos Aires now taking the lead in the region.
The 2025 edition of this highly regarded ranking evaluates 173 cities around the world, assessing a range of 30 indicators that cover aspects such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. While Santiago once held the top Latin American spot back in 2020, it has now been surpassed—albeit narrowly—by Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Global Leaders in Liveability
Topping the global chart this year is Copenhagen, Denmark, pushing past previous years’ champion Vienna, Austria, which now shares second place with Zurich, Switzerland. These European cities have consistently led the rankings thanks to their high levels of safety, well-developed public infrastructure, efficient healthcare systems, and overall stability.
Here are the top 10 most liveable cities in the world according to The Economist:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Vienna, Austria and Zurich, Switzerland (tie)
- Melbourne, Australia
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Sydney, Australia
- Osaka, Japan and Auckland, New Zealand (tie)
- Adelaide, Australia
- Vancouver, Canada
Latin America: Mixed Performance
In Latin America, Buenos Aires holds the highest position, followed closely by Santiago de Chile, Montevideo (Uruguay), San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Lima (Peru). Santiago’s global position sits at number 57, reflecting its continued reputation as a relatively safe, modern, and culturally rich city, despite slipping from its previous Latin American dominance.
The ranking takes into account several aspects beyond general safety and health services. For example, the ease of transportation, road and public transit quality, airport connectivity, and the availability of green spaces all play a role. Even weather conditions, such as average temperature and humidity, can slightly influence a city’s score.
The quality of education is another major factor, encompassing both public and private institutions, as well as basic infrastructure that supports everyday life. This includes everything from road conditions and energy supply to digital connectivity and housing availability.
Cities Struggling at the Bottom
At the other end of the spectrum, Caracas, Venezuela ranks at the bottom of the list for Latin America and is among the 10 least liveable cities worldwide. It joins conflict-affected cities like Kiev (Ukraine), Tripoli (Libya), and Damascus (Syria) in the lowest tier of the ranking.
These cities tend to score poorly in stability due to high levels of crime, political unrest, or outright armed conflict. In addition, failing infrastructure, healthcare limitations, and environmental concerns further drag down their scores.
Despite losing its top Latin American spot, Santiago remains a standout city in the region and retains a solid global position. The Economist’s Liveability Index serves as a reminder that urban development must go hand-in-hand with political stability, strong institutions, and sustained investment in infrastructure to maintain and improve a city’s quality of life.
While rankings can shift from year to year, the factors that make a city truly livable—safety, good governance, access to services, and cultural vibrancy—remain as relevant as ever in 2025.
