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The South African
2 days ago
- General
- The South African
Zimbabwe among world's 10 most difficult places to live, report finds
Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, is ranked amongst the world's hardest places to live. According to the 2025 Global Livability Index, Harare is number 4 out of 10. With many Zimbabweans relocating to other countries, the ranking isn't news to most residents; it's a lived reality. According to Business Insider Africa , the Global Livability Index assesses cities using more than 30 indicators grouped into five main categories: stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and culture and environment. The stability score reflects levels of crime, political unrest, and the likelihood of conflict. Zimbabwe's economic turmoil, driven by years of hyperinflation, currency instability, and high unemployment, continues to erode public confidence and quality of life. Access to basic healthcare remains a challenge, with frequent strikes by medical staff and shortages of essential drugs. Power cuts, water shortages, and unreliable public transport systems further contribute to the capital's declining livability. The struggles in Harare aren't unique. Lagos in Nigeria and Algiers in Algeria also appeared on the list, part of a bigger pattern where many African cities are grappling with economic pressure, crumbling infrastructure, and social unrest. Despite having natural resources in abundance, many African countries still face deep-rooted challenges that make life in their cities increasingly difficult. With underfunded schools and hospitals, millions are left to fend for themselves. Rank Country City Index Score Stability Score 1 Venezuela Caracas 45.0 35 2 Ukraine Kyiv 44.5 40 3 Papua New Guinea Port Moresby 44.0 30 4 Zimbabwe Harare 44.0 40 5 Nigeria Lagos 43.5 30 6 Algeria Algiers 42.8 35 7 Pakistan Karachi 42.7 20 8 Bangladesh Dhaka 41.7 45 9 Libya Tripoli 40.1 30 10 Syria Damascus 30.7 20 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Health
- Business Insider
Nigeria, Zimbabwe rank among the world's 10 most difficult places to live
Nigeria and Zimbabwe have been ranked among the world's 10 most difficult places to live, according to a new global livability index that highlights the harsh realities of urban life in some of the world's most challenged cities. Nigeria and Zimbabwe rank among the world's most difficult places to live, according to the Global Livability Index The index evaluates cities using indicators in five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. African cities face challenges such as economic pressures, insecurity, poor healthcare systems, and under-resourced education structures. The annual report, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), measures cities based on stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and environment, key indicators that affect overall quality of life. The Global Livability Index evaluates cities based on over 30 indicators across five core categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Stability measures crime levels, civil unrest, and the threat of conflict. Healthcare assesses the quality and availability of public and private services. Culture and environment consider factors like climate, recreational options, and personal freedoms. Education is judged by access to quality public and private schooling, while infrastructure focuses on roads, transport, housing, and global connectivity. These combined metrics provide a snapshot of how liveable a city is for its residents. African cities marred by economic challenges Most African nations are grappling with persistent economic pressures, insecurity, and strained public services. In many of these cities, ongoing political unrest, insecurity, limited access to quality healthcare, and under-resourced education systems contribute to poor livability scores. In Nigeria, cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt continue to suffer from overcrowding, inadequate healthcare systems, and rising crime rates, while Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, remains burdened by hyperinflation, aging infrastructure, and limited access to essential services. Algeria and Libya have also been named among the world's most difficult places to live, joining Nigeria and Zimbabwe in a ranking that highlights the pressures facing several African cities. For example, Tripoli in Libya continues to struggle with the effects of prolonged conflict and weakened institutions, while Algiers faces structural economic challenges and restrictions on civil liberties. These issues are compounded by inadequate infrastructure and housing conditions that fall short of global standards. The table below presents the ten most challenging cities to live in globally. Cities at the bottom of the liveability rankings are predominantly located in the Middle East and Africa, reflecting persistent instability, limited infrastructure, and constrained access to quality services. Rank Country City Index Stability 1 Venezuela Caracas 45 35 2 Ukraine Kyiv 44.5 40 3 Papua New Guinea Port Moresby 44 30 4 Zimbabwe Harare 44 40 5 Nigeria Lagos 43.5 30 6 Algeria Algiers 42.8 35 7 Pakistan Karachi 42.7 20 8 Bangladesh Dhaka 41.7 45 9 Libya Tripoli 40.1 30 10 Syria Damascus 30.7 20
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
World's most liveable cities revealed with the top spot just 100 minutes away… but it's bad news for the UK
THE world's most liveable cities have been announced with the top spot being snatched from Vienna for the first time in three years. The EIU's Global Livability Index 2025 has revealed Copenhagen in Denmark as the top city for livability, with an average score of 98 overall. 4 4 The index assessed 173 cities across the globe with the average score being 76.1 out of 100. The annual study assesses multiple different things to do with daily livelihood such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, culture and environment and stability. And the Danish capital was previously in second place to Vienna, Austria - which has held the top spot for the past three years. But this year, Copenhagen scored a perfect 100 for stability, education and infrastructure. The only two categories Copenhagen lost a few points in were health (95.8) and culture and environment (95.4). Copenhagen is home to a wealth of things to see and do including historical sights, attractions and cultural experiences and it is only an hour-an-40-minutes flight from London. The colourful Nyhavn Harbour is a great place to explore, with many colourful buildings and a number of boat tours to see the area from a different angle. There is also Tivoli Gardens - a historic amusement park with rides, gardens and entertainment. If you like seeing famous tourist spots, you'll want to head to the Little Mermaid Statue, too, and grab a pic. In addition to these spots, there is also a castle to explore and Christiansborg Palace - a former royal residence which is now home to the Danish Parliament. If heading to the city, make sure to hire a bike as Copenhagen is very cycle-friendly. There are lots of hidden gems in the city's districts too, with great local food spots and independent shops. However, the EIU's index also brings bad news for Brits, as all the cities covered from the UK (London, Manchester and Edinburgh) moved down the list. According to the report, this follows "widespread riots and rising homelessness". The UK capital moved down nine places, from 45th to 54th. Manchester ranked slightly higher than London in 52nd place, but still has fallen by nine places too. And the Scottish Capital fell five places from 59th to 64th, according to CNN. European cities dominated four out of the top five spots, with Vienna, Austria coming second and Zurich, Switzerland in third. In fourth place was one of three Australian cities to make the top 10: Melbourne. And Geneva, Switzerland followed in fifth place. 4 The remaining five in the top 10 are all outside of Europe with Sydney, Australia in sixth; Osaka, Japan in seventh; Auckland, New Zealand in eighth; Adelaide, Australia in ninth and the Canadian city of Vancouver slipping into the tenth spot. Overall, the findings also suggested that there is a continued decline in global stability "driven by intensifying geopolitical conflict and civil unrest". Scores for healthcare, education and infrastructure all saw minor improvements on average. The Middle East and North Africa region saw the most significant gains overall. Fine dining and exploring beautiful Copenhagen THE Sun's Kirsty Spence visited Copenhagen - here's what she thought. You're never far from water here, so exploring by boat is a no-brainer. With Green Kayaks, you can borrow one in exchange for collecting litter as you go - so slide into one at La Banchina. This trendy bathing and sauna spot in Refshaleøen is also a great place to relax afterwards. Having worked up an appetite, I head to hidden-gem Kanalhuset to try the locals' fave, smørrebrød – AKA open sandwiches. Both the curried herring and the roast beef with hazelnuts, £8.75 each, are ridiculously tasty. It's traditional to pair them with alcoholic snaps, and they make their own with flavours such as brown butter, and rhubarb and vanilla, £5.80. Or for an even of 'social dining', head to at Gro Spiseri, Denmark's first rooftop farm, with sunset views – and 24 strangers. If you're into antiquities, Glyptotek – the collection of Carlsberg Brewery founder Carl Jacobsen – is worth a visit. It's a work of art in itself, with palm trees, paintings and Egyptian mummies. The world's happiest city in 2025 was also recently revealed, with a theme park that inspired Disney and new UK flights. Plus, Time Out has named its best cities in the world for 2025 and six in the UK make the list.
