Karachi has been ranked among the ‘least-liveable cities in the world’, ranking 170th among 173 cities on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual Global Liveability Index 2026.
Karachi ranked among the world’s least livable cities, with only Dhaka, Tripoli and Damascus placed below it. Conflict-hit cities, including Tehran, which ranked 164th, and Kyiv, which ranked 166th, scored slightly higher than Karachi.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), major cities often receive lower rankings due to issues such as traffic congestion and crime.
The EIU’s annual ranking evaluates living conditions in 173 cities around the world and serves as a globally recognized benchmark for urban livability and resilience.
The index measures factors including stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure to assess the quality of life in each city.
Karachi received an overall score of 43 out of 100, the same as Algiers. The city performed poorly in most categories except education. It scored 20 for stability, 54 for health care, 36 for culture and environment, 75 for education, and 52 for infrastructure.
Several cities in the Middle East affected by the U.S.-Iran conflict also saw declines in the rankings. Muscat, Kuwait City, Doha and Manama all dropped several places.
Muscat recorded the biggest decline, falling 14 places to 123rd after a series of Iranian drone strikes. Doha, which attracts a large expatriate population, dropped seven places to 108th. Dubai and Abu Dhabi each fell four places, ranking 79th and 76th, respectively.
Among the world’s most livable cities, Copenhagen retained the top position, followed by Vienna and Melbourne. Vancouver, ranked ninth, was the only North American city in the top 10, while Tokyo, ranked 10th, was the only megacity on the list.
