Once again, Melbourne has been ranked the most liveable city in the world through the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index. For the sixth time in the past six years, Melbourne ranked first of the 140 cities assessed across the world. It has never left the top three cities in the world since the index began in 2002, which speaks volumes as to the quality of life Australia’s most sublime city has to offer.

The Global Liveability Index is based on scores from five different factors: healthcare, education, infrastructure, culture & the environment, and stability. In 2016, Melbourne received perfect scores in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. It also received extremely high scores in both stability and culture & the environment. Why did it score so well across the board?

Healthcare:

Melbournians (and Australians in general) are very healthy. They have a life expectancy that is one of the highest in the world. Good quality hospitals combined with a range of other health services – including dentists, ambulances, and community health facilities – have contributed to Melbourne achieving a perfect healthcare score for the last five years.

Education:

Melbourne also has some of the best education statistics in the world. Over half of its inhabitants who are aged between 15 and 64 have some form of post-graduate qualification, with over half of these being university degrees. Melbourne has ten high class universities, among which are the highest ranked in Australia, and the third highest in the Asia Pacific. It also has over 1,300 schools, which means that education is readily available to even the most disadvantaged children (or adults).

Infrastructure:

Melbourne has some of the best infrastructure in the world, as evidenced by its perfect score in that category. Public transport is readily available in most, if not all parts of the city. Pedestrian paths and cycle tracks are continually being improved. It is easy to get to the airport, and accessibility in the city centre is nothing short of amazing.

Stability:

Melbourne is an extremely stable city, with little perceived threat of terrorism and a low crime rate. The only thing which prevented it from scoring a perfect hundred in this category as well was the Australian government’s lack of stability – which affected scores for every city in the country to some degree.

Culture and the Environment:

Every Australian (and many foreigners) knows Melbourne for its multicultural identities. It is an inclusive, friendly city where anyone can feel comfortable. The huge selection of parks, good public transport, and the city’s commitment to providing clean transport options are a testament to its commitment to the environment.

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