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Blog · 2024-04-06

The 10 happiest cities in the world

A British institute has ranked the world's happiest cities based on 2023 data.

To crown the winner of its Happy City Index 2023, the British research firm Institute for Quality of Life assessed 200 cities around the world.

According to the study, the happiest city in the world is Aarhus, Denmark.

Denmark's second-largest city sits on the eastern side of the Jutland peninsula, roughly 187 kilometres from the capital, Copenhagen. The result came as little surprise: residents of the Nordic countries almost always top rankings of this kind.

The 10 happiest cities in the world

  • 🇩🇰 Aarhus
  • 🇳🇱 Amsterdam
  • 🇳🇴 Bergen
  • 🇦🇺 Brisbane
  • 🇦🇺 Canberra
  • 🇸🇪 Eskilstuna
  • 🇨🇭 Geneva
  • 🇫🇮 Helsinki
  • 🇸🇪 Jönköping
  • 🇬🇧 London

How the cities were measured

  • education;
  • inclusive policy;
  • the economy;
  • mobility;
  • environmental protection;
  • access to green spaces;
  • innovation;
  • natural conditions;
  • exposure to natural disasters;
  • and much more that shapes residents' sense of happiness.

The ranking also featured Singapore in 26th place, Paris in 40th, Tokyo in 85th, Moscow in 137th, and Istanbul in 149th. Podgorica and Nicosia bring up the rear.

FAQ

What is the happiest city in the world?
Aarhus takes first place in the Happy City Index. It is Denmark's second largest city, on the Jutland peninsula about 187 km from Copenhagen. The ranking comes from the UK based Institute for Quality of Life, which studied 200 cities.
Who makes the happiest cities ranking?
The Institute for Quality of Life, a British research company. It scores cities on dozens of indicators and publishes the result as the Happy City Index.
Which cities are in the top 10?
Aarhus, Amsterdam, Bergen, Brisbane, Canberra, Eskilstuna, Geneva, Helsinki, Jonkoping and London. Half the list is Northern Europe, with two Australian cities alongside.
How do they measure how happy a city is?
The index looks at education, the economy, mobility, inclusive policy, environmental protection and access to green space, innovation, natural conditions and exposure to disasters.
Where do Paris and Moscow rank?
Paris comes 40th and Moscow 137th. Singapore is 26th, Tokyo 85th and Istanbul 149th, while Podgorica and Nicosia close out the list.

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