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Citizens enjoy their leisure time on a cafe-lined street in Copenhagen, Denmark, on June 26 (local time). / Courtesy of AFP, Yonhap News

Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, has been crowned the "World's Most Livable City in 2026."

According to the annual livability index released on July 7 (local time) by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)—the research and analysis division of the UK-based Economist Group—Copenhagen secured the top spot for the second consecutive year.

An EIU spokesperson attributed Copenhagen’s back-to-back victories to its well-rounded excellence. "The city earned exceptional marks across the stability and infrastructure categories, propelled by a seamless harmony between its vibrant culture, pristine environment, and high standards of public services," the spokesperson explained.

Vienna, Austria, retained its second-place position from last year, having previously held the number-one spot for three consecutive years prior to Copenhagen's rise.

Rounding out the top ten were Melbourne, Australia, in third; Sydney, Australia, in fourth; Zurich, Switzerland, in fifth; Geneva, Switzerland, in sixth; Osaka, Japan, in seventh; Adelaide, Australia, in eighth; Vancouver, Canada, in ninth; and Tokyo, Japan, in tenth.

Meanwhile, New York City climbed three spots to 66th place, driven by an improved score in the stability category. CNN analyzed that the upward movement reflects dropping crime rates and a more positive public perception regarding counter-terrorism and safety risks.

Conversely, cities across the Middle East suffered point deductions in stability due to geopolitical conflicts and the spillover effects of war. Muscat, the capital of Oman, registered the sharpest decline on the index, tumbling 14 spots to 123rd. Kuwait City, the capital of Kuwait, similarly slid 12 places to finish at 105th.

The EIU annually assesses and ranks 173 cities globally across five core categories: education, stability, healthcare, infrastructure, and culture and environment. In this year's evaluation, Copenhagen achieved perfect scores in stability, infrastructure, and education.

                                                                                                            Kim Hyun-min