Urban Transformation

The world's best places to live

Karlskirche (Charles church) is pictured in Vienna, Austria, November 27, 2016.   REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger - RTSTSMR

Vienna, Austria has come in at number two in the list of the ten most livable cities in 2017.

Image: REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

This past year has been tumultuous. With the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the rise of far-right extremists in the US, and terror attacks reverberating across the globe, 2017 has changed the world.

However, there are a number of cities around the world where citizens are happy, social services, are improving, and economies are growing.

These places routinely make the list of the world's most livable cities. Using factors such as crime, health care, culture, and access to transportation, the Economist has put together its annual list of the cities that have the highest standard of living.

Image: Statista

And, despite all the chaotic news, the average standard of living still managed to rise in a number of major cities around the world – which helped bring the global average livability metric up for the first time in a decade, reports The Economist.

Cities such as Melbourne, Australia, and Vancouver, Canada, have been mainstays on the list for years, while Sydney, Australia lost its spot in the top ten this year.

Here are the top ten most livable cities in 2017:

#1: Melbourne, Australia

#2: Vienna, Austria

#3: Vancouver, Canada

#4: Toronto, Canada

#5: Calgary, Canada (tied for 5)

#5: Adelaide, Australia (tied for 5)

#6: Perth, Australia

#7: Auckland, New Zealand

#8: Helsinki, Finland

#9: Hamburg, Germany

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