In the latest annual Global Liveability Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), India’s capital city, New Delhi, secured the 120th position among 173 surveyed global cities. The ranking highlights the city’s ongoing struggle to balance rapid economic growth with crucial quality-of-life metrics such as environmental stability, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The annual assessment ranks cities worldwide to identify the best and worst places to live. While Delhi managed to stay ahead of several other South Asian capitals, its position reflects persistent systemic challenges that continue to impact the daily lives of its nearly 33 million residents.
Understanding the Global Liveability Index
The EIU evaluates 173 cities across five major categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Each city receives a rating out of 100, which multinational corporations frequently use to calculate hardship allowances for relocating employees. Historically, Indian cities have clustered toward the lower-middle tier of the index due to high population densities and developing public utilities.
Western European cities like Vienna and Copenhagen continue to dominate the top of the global rankings, boasting high scores in social security, public transit, and healthcare. In contrast, rapidly expanding metropolitan areas in developing nations often struggle to scale their public services to keep pace with demographic growth.
Air Quality and Infrastructure Drag Down Delhi’s Scores
Delhi’s position at 120 reflects a complex mix of educational strengths and severe environmental weaknesses. While the capital scores relatively well in tertiary education and healthcare availability compared to its regional peers, its overall rating remains heavily suppressed by poor air quality. During the winter months, particulate matter (PM2.5) levels regularly exceed World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits by more than tenfold, triggering public health emergencies and school closures.
Traffic congestion and inadequate waste management systems also contribute significantly to the city’s low infrastructure score. Despite massive investments in the Delhi Metro network, first- and last-mile connectivity remains a major challenge for commuters. Municipal agencies struggle to manage the daily output of solid waste, leading to overflowing landfills that pose long-term environmental hazards.
Expert Perspectives on Urban Planning
Urban development experts point out that Delhi’s rapid, often unplanned peripheral expansion has outpaced municipal utility capabilities. This mismatch creates a stark divide between well-maintained diplomatic zones and underserved residential colonies.
“The mismatch between population influx and civic infrastructure creation is the primary driver of Delhi’s low liveability score,” says Dr. Anjali Sharma, an urban policy analyst at the Center for Urban Research. “While metro connectivity has improved, waste management, clean water access, and air pollution mitigation require far more aggressive, coordinated regional policies.”
Economists also note that liveability directly correlates with economic competitiveness. Cities that fail to improve their liveability scores risk losing high-value human capital to regional competitors that offer better environmental conditions and public safety.
Implications for Investment and Policy
The EIU ranking carries significant economic implications for Delhi and the wider National Capital Region (NCR). Multinational corporations utilize these indices to determine compensation packages and decide where to establish regional headquarters. A lower liveability rank can deter top-tier international talent and increase operational costs for businesses looking to expand in South Asia.
For local policymakers, the index serves as a diagnostic tool highlighting where public spending should be prioritized. The data suggests that incremental improvements in transport are no longer sufficient; instead, systemic reforms in environmental governance and healthcare infrastructure are urgently required.
What to Watch Next
Moving forward, observers are monitoring the implementation of the Master Plan for Delhi 2041, which aims to foster a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive city. Key focus areas of the plan include the transition to electric public transit, the rehabilitation of local water bodies, and the enforcement of stricter industrial emission norms.
Public health advocates are also watching the performance of the newly installed smog towers and regional clean air action plans. The success of these initiatives over the next fiscal year will determine whether Delhi can climb the ranks in future EIU assessments or remain bogged down by its ecological and infrastructural constraints.
