VIENNA — COVID-19 has shaken up the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual ranking of most livable cities, propelling Auckland to first place, replacing Vienna, which crashed out of the top 10 as the island nations of New Zealand, Australia and Japan fared best.
The Austrian capital had led the list since 2018 and for years ran neck and neck with Melbourne at the top of the survey of 140 urban centers. New Zealand’s elimination of COVID-19 within its borders through lockdown measures helped by its geographic isolation, however, gave its cities a big boost.
“New Zealand’s tough lockdown allowed their society to reopen and enabled citizens of cities like Auckland and Wel…
Keep on reading: Pandemic propels Auckland to top of world’s most livable cities ranking