Karachi has been ranked among the world’s least liveable cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, placing 170th out of 173 cities. The report highlights persistent challenges in stability, infrastructure, and public services, while education remained the city’s strongest-performing category.
KARACHI: Karachi has been ranked among the world’s least liveable cities, placing 170th out of 173 cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026.
The latest rankings place Pakistan’s largest city ahead of only Dhaka, Tripoli, and Damascus, while cities affected by recent conflicts, including Tehran (164th) and Kyiv (166th), ranked slightly higher.
The annual Global Liveability Index evaluates living conditions in 173 cities worldwide and is widely regarded as a key benchmark for assessing urban quality of life. The rankings measure five major categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
Karachi Scores 43 Out of 100
Karachi received an overall score of 43 out of 100, equal to Algiers, reflecting continued challenges across several key indicators.
The city’s category scores were:
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Stability | 20 |
| Healthcare | 54 |
| Culture and Environment | 36 |
| Education | 75 |
| Infrastructure | 52 |
Education remained Karachi’s strongest-performing category, while stability received the lowest score.
According to the EIU, large cities often receive lower scores because of persistent issues such as traffic congestion, crime, pressure on public services, and infrastructure challenges.
Middle East Cities Also Decline
The report noted that several cities in the Middle East experienced declines in this year’s rankings following the recent US-Iran conflict.
Muscat recorded the sharpest fall, dropping 14 places to 123rd after a series of Iranian drone strikes.
Other cities also moved down the rankings:
- Doha: 108th (down seven places)
- Abu Dhabi: 76th (down four places)
- Dubai: 79th (down four places)
- Kuwait City: Declined in the rankings
- Manama: Declined in the rankings
The EIU said regional instability affected the liveability scores of several Gulf cities despite their strong infrastructure and healthcare systems.
Copenhagen Retains Top Position
At the top of the Global Liveability Index 2026, Copenhagen retained its position as the world’s most liveable city.
Among the top 10, Vancouver ranked ninth and was the only North American city to make the list, while Tokyo ranked 10th as the only megacity in the top 10.
The EIU’s findings highlight the continuing challenges facing Karachi in areas such as public safety, infrastructure, and urban management. At the same time, the relatively stronger education score indicates progress in one of the city’s key social sectors, even as broader improvements remain necessary to enhance overall quality of life.