Latest news with #InstitutefortheQualityofLife
CNBC
29-05-2025
- Health
- CNBC
This is the happiest city in the world, new data shows—it's not in the U.S.
In May, the Institute for the Quality of Life released its 2025 Happy City Index. The 200 cities in the report were separated into three groups: gold, silver, and bronze, with gold meaning those cities scored the highest across all metrics combined. To rank the world's happiest cities, researchers tracked 82 indicators of happiness across six major categories: 2025 is the first year the index included health as a category. It's something that Dr. Bartosz Bartoszewicz, Director and Co-creator of the Index, tells CNBC Make It was an important addition because of the covid-19 pandemic. "We've added health, and we didn't know what the results were going to be, and what was surprising is that most of the cities that were gold cities in the past remain," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. "It shows they are still developing in a sustainable way and that is great because it's not only about mobility or governance. It's about the whole structure of the city." The United States didn't have any cities rank in the top 10, but did have two get the "gold city" distinction: New York City at No. 17 and Minneapolis at No. 30. 18 U.S. cities were ranked and make up almost 10% off the entire index, which Dr. Bartoszewicz is still a good result. Copenhagen, Denmark, ranked No. 1 on the Happy City Index with a total score of 1,039. "What is amazing about Copenhagen? First of all, its ability to be open for innovation. Its educational system is of very good quality and it's affordable," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. Dr. Bartoszewicz adds that despite Copenhagen being ranked No. 1, it still has its issues, like housing. Apartment prices have doubled in the past 10 years, according to Boligsidens Markedsindeks, a Danish housing market portal. "Every city has its challenges but Copenhagen does a good job of not only confirming they have a problem but they are even listing them and telling people to join them in coming up with how to solve these problems," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. "Living in Copenhagen is still a challenge so even though it's first, they still have a lot of problems to solve." Denmark frequently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world, so it's no surprise that its capital city took the top spot on this list. In 2024, the country the No. 2 happiest in the world, according to the World Happiness Report. Denmark is also the career opportunities, and work-life balance, according to a 2024 Expat Insider survey from InterNations, the online global community for people who've moved abroad. In Denmark, residents pay some of the world's highest taxes— up to half of their income — it is balanced out by the fact that most healthcare in the country is free, childcare is subsidized, university students pay no tuition and receive grants to help cover expenses while studying. For the second year in a row, Switzerland's largest city, Zurich, ranked No. 2 in the index with a score of 993. The city is a global financial hub that is renowned for its economic strength and high quality of life, according to the report. It scored highly in the categories of citizens and governance. "In Zurich, people have access to the best quality of education and a really strong economy. If you live in Zurich, your average income is much higher than the rest of the country. You're earning almost double what other cities in Switzerland do," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. Zurich is divided into 12 districts and was named the world's smartest city in 2024 for its innovative integration of new technologies. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked it the third most liveable city in 2024. The city is often referred to as the "City of Banks" due to its global financial reputation. It is also one of the most expensive places to live in the world. ,
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- IOL News
These are the world's 5 happiest cities in 2025
Residents of Copenhagen cite an overall sense of security and access to high-quality public services as major contributors to daily happiness. While no single city was declared 'the happiest', a group of 31 were awarded 'Gold City' status for excelling across the board. The comprehensive study analysed 82 indicators across six core categories used to evaluate how well cities are promoting the wellbeing of their residents. According to the 2025 Happy City Index, published by the Institute for the Quality of Life, happiness is the result of a well-balanced combination of these and other key factors. What makes a city truly happy? Is it green spaces, strong governance, or access to quality healthcare? restore all settings to the default values Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Seek to live, currently behind live The happiest cities in the world From that list, five cities stood out with the highest scores. Here's what residents in those cities had to say about what makes their hometowns among the happiest places on earth. 1. Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen is often associated with exceptional quality of life, and this year's results confirm its status. The city earned top marks in environmental sustainability, thanks to expansive green areas, forward-thinking waste policies and a strong commitment to clean energy. Its economic indicators are equally impressive, with a healthy GDP, strong salaries, and a thriving innovation sector with international businesses. Residents cite an overall sense of security and access to high-quality public services as major contributors to daily happiness. 2. Zurich, Switzerland Switzerland's largest city landed the second spot, particularly excelling in the citizens and governance categories. Zurich's residents benefit from an inclusive political atmosphere and robust digital public services that simplify everyday tasks. The city's infrastructure and efficient administration are widely credited for creating a stress-free urban experience. Locals say the balance between personal freedom and civic responsibility helps foster a calm, well-ordered lifestyle. 3. Singapore Singapore remains a standout in Asia when it comes to quality of life. The city-state performed exceptionally well in the newly introduced health metric, which encompasses public safety, healthcare access, and preventative health programmes. Governance was another strong point—residents note how policy changes have actively worked to reduce the cost-of-living pressures that affect so many urban centres. Its clean environment, efficient transport, and business-friendly climate all contribute to a consistently high ranking in global happiness surveys. 4. Aarhus, Denmark Nicknamed 'the world's smallest big city,' Aarhus combines the cultural and economic advantages of a metropolis with the warmth of a smaller community. Denmark's second-largest city scored highly across the board, particularly in the citizens, environment and health categories. Locals say that the city's liveability is enhanced by its friendly atmosphere, walkability and strong sense of community. Many point to the ease of daily life and accessible public services as reasons why happiness feels tangible here. 5. Antwerp, Belgium Outperforming the Belgian capital, Antwerp has emerged as a surprise top contender. It ranked strongly in the citizens, governance and environment categories, with residents praising its dependable public transport system, excellent cycling infrastructure, and compact urban layout. These features make commuting easy and stress-free, while the city's rich cultural life adds vibrancy to everyday living. These five cities show that happiness doesn't happen by chance - it's the product of intentional planning, inclusive policies, and a shared commitment to wellbeing. IOL Travel
