Tokyo ranks first as the city with the highest quality of life in 2020 due to its overall relatively good scores in most metrics and Japan’s strong response to COVID-19. Japan has had very low case counts, a subsidized advanced transportation system, and an overall high quality of life.
Tokyo has topped Global Finance magazine’s list of the best cities in the world to live in. The Japanese capital finished ahead of London, Singapore and New York to finish in first place based on a number of factors used to determine which city has the highest quality of life.
Reflecting global events, COVID-19 death figures were used in the calculations, and were further weighted by a factor of three to show its importance. This metric was used alongside economic strength, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment, accessibility ad GDP per capita.
Tokyo’s high finish was in part due to Japan’s response to COVID-19 — which included closing its borders and postponing the Olympics — while other cities fell right down the list due to how the pandemic had affected them. This included Milan (now in 40th), Barcelona (38) and Madrid (35). COVID-19 also impacted the rest of the top 10 as East Asian cities did well in this year’s list — Seoul was named in eighth — while London missed out on the top spot due to the level of U.K. deaths and infections.
For the whole list, which also included Melbourne, Frankfurt, Paris, Berlin and Sydney in the top 10, head over to the Global Finance website.
Earlier this year, it was also announced that the Tokyo Olympics would be taking place “with or without COVID” as the IOC insists it will stick to its schedule.
Best Cities to Live in 2020 Full Ranking |
|---|
| Rank | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo | Japan |
| 2 | London | United Kingdom |
| 3 | Singapore | Republic of Singapore |
| 4 | New York | United States of America |
| 5 | Melbourne | Australia |
| 6 | Frankfurt | Germany |
| 7 | Paris | France |
| 8 | Seoul | South Korea |
| 9 | Berlin | Germany |
| 10 | Sydney | Australia |
| 11 | Hong Kong | China |
| 12 | Copenhagen | Denmark |
| 13 | Vienna | Austria |
| 14 | Amsterdam | Netherlands |
| 15 | Helsinki | Finland |
| 16 | Zurich | Switzerland |
| 17 | Dubai | UAE |
| 18 | Osaka | Japan |
| 19 | Toronto | Canada |
| 20 | Geneva | Switzerland |
| 21 | Shanghai | China |
| 22 | Beijing | China |
| 23 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia |
| 24 | Vancouver | Canada |
| 25 | Moscow | Russia |
| 26 | Taipei | China |
| 27 | Dublin | Ireland |
| 28 | Tel Aviv | Israel |
| 29 | Stockholm | Sweden |
| 30 | Istanbul | Turkey |
| 31 | San Francisco | United States of America |
| 32 | Bangkok | Thailand |
| 33 | Los Angeles | United States of America |
| 34 | Fukuoka | Japan |
| 35 | Madrid | Spain |
| 36 | Boston | United States of America |
| 37 | Chicago | United States of America |
| 38 | Barcelona | Spain |
| 39 | Washington, D.C. | United States of America |
| 40 | Milan | Italy |
| 41 | Buenos Aires | Argentina |
| 42 | Jakarta | Indonesia |
| 43 | Brussels | Belgium |
| 44 | Cairo | Egypt |
| 45 | Mumbai | India |
| 46 | Sao Paulo | Brazil |
| 47 | Mexico City | Mexico |
| 48 | Johannesburg | South Africa |