In September 2026, Oxford Economics released the latest edition of its Global Cities Index 2026. In the Quality of Life category, Canberra, the capital of Australia, ranked first in the world, marking the second consecutive year that the city has taken the top position in this category.
The Global Cities Index evaluates 1,000 major cities around the world each year. The 2026 edition uses 27 indicators across five categories — Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance. Oxford Economics released the main 2026 results on 16 September, with New York, London and Paris remaining the top three cities in the overall ranking.
In the Quality of Life category, Canberra ranked first, followed by Bergen, Singapore, Grenoble, Bern, Oslo, Luxembourg City, Dresden, Ghent and Paris. Time Out Australia reported the result on 15 September 2026, noting that Canberra had ranked first for quality of life among all 1,000 cities for the second year in a row.
According to the report, Canberra’s strong performance reflects relatively low income inequality, high and comparatively stable incomes, and long life expectancy. Stable and well-paid government employment is also an important factor supporting the city’s high quality-of-life score.
Among other major Australian cities, Sydney ranked 17th for quality of life, followed by Perth at 38th, Melbourne at 54th, Adelaide at 59th, the Gold Coast at 71st and Brisbane at 75th.
It is important to note that Canberra ranked first specifically in the Quality of Life category, not in the overall Global Cities Index. In 2026, Canberra ranked 45th overall, up seven places from 2025 and entering the global top 50 for the first time.
Oxford Economics says the Global Cities Index is designed to compare the structural strengths and challenges of major cities in areas including economic performance, human capital, living conditions, environment and governance. The 2026 edition continues to cover 1,000 cities worldwide, making it one of the broadest global city comparison frameworks currently available.
Official source:
Oxford Economics — 2026 Global Cities Index
https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/global-cities-index/
Related report:
Time Out Australia — Canberra is officially the world’s best city for quality of life in 2026
https://www.timeout.com/australia/news/canberra-is-officially-the-worlds-best-city-for-quality-of-life-in-2026-091526
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