The city-state
ranks 26th in the world in quality of living and eighth globally in
personal safety
SINGAPORE: In Asia, Singapore is the safest city and has the
highest quality of living, according to a survey by global human
resources consulting firm Mercer released on Tuesday (Feb 23).
Mercer’s 18th annual global Quality of Living rankings placed
Singapore at 26th in the world and first in Asia, followed by
Japanese cities Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya. In
South-east Asia, Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur was named as the next best
city in quality of living.
Hong Kong is the highest-ranked city in Greater China, with
Taiwan’s Taipei and Taichung as well as Shanghai and Beijing
trailing behind in that order.
Vienna, the capital of Austria, took top spot globally, followed
by Switzerland’s Zurich and Auckland in New Zealand.
Iraqi capital Baghdad took lowest spot on the global
rankings.
SAFETY RANKINGS
The Mercer survey also ranked cities on their level of personal
safety, based on internal stability, crime levels, performance of
local law enforcement and the home country’s relationship with
other countries.
At eighth place globally, Singapore is the safest city in Asia,
with the same five Japanese cities - Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
and Yokohama - coming in behind. Bangkok ranked at 173rd after
considerable political unrest and terrorist attacks in several
tourist areas over the last few years, said Mercer.
Topping the global charts is Luxembourg, followed by a three-way
tie for second place between Swiss capital Bern, Helsinki in
Finland and Zurich. After suffering either terrorist attacks or
social unrest in the last few years, cities like Paris (71st),
London (72nd), Madrid (84th), and Athens (124th) now rank
considerably lower than before.
Baghdad and Syrian capital Damascus were ranked as the world’s
least safe cities, with both witnessing continual violence and
terrorist attacks, said Mercer.
- CNA/jo
