After holding the title of the most liveable city in the world for seven straight years, Melbourne has been dislodged by Vienna, the Austrian capital.
Melbourne came in at a close second, losing to Vienna by a mere 0.7% in the rankings by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index 2018.
Vienna received an overall score of 99.1% on the annual list, which assesses stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure in 140 different cities.
The EIU attributes Austria's capital's rise to the top to increased security scores due to a return to relative stability across much of Europe after high-profile terrorist attacks in recent years.
The survey’s editor Roxana Slavcheva told Reuters Vienna also benefited from its low crime rate.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA - SEPTEMBER 03, 2006: Over the roofs of Vienna. Source: Franz Soukup/ASAblanca via Getty Images
“One of the subcategories that Vienna does really well in is the prevalence of petty crime … It’s proven to be one of the safest cities in Europe,” she said.
Besides Melbourne, two other Australian cities have made it to top ten with Sydney ranking as the fifth most liveable city and Adelaide being ranked as the tenth most liveable city in 2018.
Most liveable cities 2018: 1. Vienna, Austria 2. Melbourne, Australia 3. Osaka, Japan 4. Calgary, Canada 5. Sydney, Australia 6. Vancouver, Canada 7. (tie) Toronto, Canada 7. (tie) Tokyo, Japan 9. Copenhagen, Denmark 10. Adelaide, Australia
Source: SBS
Victoria is home to the largest Indian community in Australia with 169,802 followed by New South Wales at 143,459. And 27,594 people born in India have now settled in South Australia, according to the 2016 census.
Damascus, Dhaka named least liveable
At the other end of the table, Damascus retained the last place, followed by the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, and Lagos in Nigeria.
The survey does not include several of the world's most dangerous capitals, such as Baghdad and Kabul.
