The world's most liveable city has changed for the first time in seven years

Australia has lost to Austria the bragging rights to being home to the world’s most liveable city.

Melbourne ceded the number one spot atop the 2018 Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) global liveability index, a post it had held for seven years, to Vienna.

The Austrian metropolis bumped the Victorian capital to second spot on the 140-city table due to decreasing criminality and a reduced risk of militant attacks in western Europe.

“A long-running contender to the title, Vienna has succeeded in displacing Melbourne from the top spot due to increases in the Austrian capital’s stability category ratings,” the EIU reported.

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Melbourne only edged out third-placer Osaka by 0.7 of a percentage point. The Japanese city vaulted to its current position from a distant 14th place last year when Asia was all but absent from the top 10.

Osaka fared better this year in scores for quality and availability of public transportation. It also displayed “a consistent decline in crime rates, have contributed to higher ratings in the infrastructure and stability categories respectively," EIU researchers said.

Hong Kong roared higher into the top 40 after a steep crash down the chart in 2015 in the aftermath of the Umbrella Revolution. With a score of 91.3 percent, the Chinese SAR bested, by two notches, rival Singapore that stood at number 37.

Tokyo landed at number seven, while Australia registered yet more entrants in the top 10 with Sydney (5) and Adelaide (10).

Damascus, in contrast, was rated least liveable city on earth.

Here are the rest of the top 10:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Osaka, Japan
4. Calgary, Canada
5. Sydney, Australia
6. Vancouver, Canada
7. Tokyo, Japan
8. Toronto, Canada
9. Copenhagen, Denmark
10. Adelaide, Australia
Ref: Property Report

Ref : Property Report