Taipei was ranked as the 62nd most livable city in the world for the second consecutive year in the latest global survey released on Monday by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
The survey, now in its 10th year, assesses living conditions in 140 cities around the world by assigning a rating of relative comfort based on more than 30 qualitative and quantitative factors in five broad categories — stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
The survey gives an overall rating of 0 to 100, with 1 denoting intolerable conditions and 100 ideal conditions.
Sixty-four cities achieved scores of more than 80, while 13 cities were ranked in the bottom tier of livability with ratings of below 50.
Jon Copestake, editor of the report, said that Taipei obtained a rating of 81.9, which means that the city has few, if any, living standard challenges.
He said, however, that Taipei should seek to hold more international sports events and improve its living environment in order to gain a higher ranking.
In the greater China region, Hong Kong placed the highest at 39th, Tianjin 72nd, Suzhou 74th, Beijing 76th, Shenzhen 83rd, Shanghai 84th, Dalian 85th, Guangzhou 89th and Qingdao 95th.
Worldwide, Vancouver retained its ranking as the most livable city, followed by Vienna, Melbourne, Toronto, Perth and Calgary (tied for fifth), Helsinki, Geneva, and Sydney and Zurich (tied for ninth).
Rounding up the top 20 were Adelaide, Auckland, Osaka, Stockholm and Hamburg (tied for 14th), Brisbane, Montreal and Paris (tied for 17th), and Frankfurt and Tokyo (tied for 19th).
US cities in the top tier were Pittsburgh in 29th place and New York in 56th position.
London, meanwhile, was ranked 51st.
The report said that the cities with the best scores tended to be mid-sized, in developed countries with a low population density, had cultural and recreational assets, lower crime levels and fewer infrastructure problems.
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