Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

The World’s Most Liveable City is . . .

GEOGRAPHY

G’day, Australia! For the fifth year in a row, Melbourne remains the most liveable location on Earth. (CNN and The Economist)

Use our resources to learn more about the political, economic, and cultural functions of cities.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources, including a link to today’s MapMaker Interactive map.

Where are the world’s most liveable cities? What factors do you think influenced their rankings? (P.S. The more interesting maps may be the “most improved” and “biggest falls,” our second and third bookmarks.)
Where are the world’s most liveable cities? What factors do you think influenced their rankings? (P.S. The more interesting maps may be the “most improved” and “biggest falls,” our second and third bookmarks.)

Discussion Ideas

  • What criteria did The Economist Intelligence Unit use when evaluating the “liveability” of a city? Take a look through the report here for a great outline.
    • Stability (25%)
      • Prevalence of petty crime
      • Prevalence of violent crime
      • Threat of terror
      • Threat of military conflict
      • Threat of civil unrest
    • Culture and Environment (25%)
      • Humidity/temperature rating
      • Discomfort of climate to travelers
      • Level of corruption
      • Social or religious restrictions
      • Level of censorship
      • Sporting availability
      • Cultural availability
      • Food and drink quality
      • Consumer goods and services quality
    • Health Care (20%)
      • Availability of private health care
      • Quality of private health care
      • Availability of public health care
      • Quality of public health care
      • Availability of over-the-counter drugs
      • General health care indicators
    • Infrastructure (20%)
      • Quality of road networks
      • Quality of public transportation
      • Quality of links to international transportation
      • Availability of good quality housing
      • Quality of energy provisions
      • Quality of water provisions
      • Quality of telecommunications
    • Education (10%)
      • Availability of private education
      • Quality of private education
      • Public education indicators

 

  • What do you think might contribute to a city’s “improved” ranking? Take a look at our second bookmark for a list of cities with the “most improved” liveability rankings.
    • Widespread crime reduction policies
    • Increased availability of recreational activities
    • More hospitals, clinics, and medications
    • Expanded public transportation
    • Improved educational opportunities

 

  • What factors do you think may have contributed to the list’s “biggest falls” in liveability? Take a look at our third bookmark for a list of cities with the “biggest falls” in liveability rankings.
    • Civil war and regional conflict (Syria, Ukraine, Libya, Tunisia)
    • Economic instability (Greece)

 

TEACHERS’ TOOLKIT

CNN: World’s most livable city in 2015 is …

Nat Geo: Where are the world’s most liveable cities? map

Nat Geo: AP Human Geography: Cities resources

(extra credit!) The Economist Intelligence Unit: Liveability Ranking overview

3 thoughts on “The World’s Most Liveable City is . . .”

  1. Pingback: 11 Things We Learned This Week | Nat Geo Education Blog
  2. Pingback: 11 Things We Learned This Week | Nat Geo Education Blog

  3. The Economist Intelligence Unit has given its annual assessment of the world’s most liveable cities. Using criteria ranging from stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure, it assesses which locations around the world have the most and least enviable living conditions.

    Reply

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