The idea of moving abroad is always appealing, whether you want to live somewhere with a better quality of living or simply have an insatiable appetite for travel. But where to start? It may help to look at some ironclad data.

Enter the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2022, the latest annual ranking of the best places to live in the world, which scores 172 cities in five categories: stability, Healthcare, Culture and Entertainment, Education, and Infrastructure.  

For the past two years, EIU’s rankings have been largely driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, with lockdowns and social distancing measures affecting scores for culture, education, and healthcare in cities across the world. The 2022 report seems to signal a return to pre-pandemic trends, although several other factors – particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – have caused some regions to fall in the rankings.

So what exactly are the most livable cities in 2022? Looking at the top 10, metropolises in western Europe and Canada reign supreme – but those in Australia and Japan rank high as well. (And before you even look, be warned that zero UK cities made the cut.) 

Counting down, here are the 10 best places to live in the world.