Vienna is once again the most livable city in the world, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2023 Global Livability Index. This yearly report analyzes cities around the world and ranks them on a scale from one to 100, looking at over 30 factors in five major categories — stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure — to determine the most (and least) livable destinations.

After COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in most of these 173 cities, the report notes a "shift back to normality," with the average index score reaching 76.2, the highest in 15 years. Also good news? Healthcare scores have increased the most across the board. The only area that sees a decline is stability due to civil unrest, corruption, and an uptick in crime rates in many cities around the world.

Vienna is back to the number one spot for a second year in a row after its many museums, cultural institutions, and restaurants were able to reopen after the pandemic. The city's COVID-19 restrictions caused it to slip out of the top 10 cities in the 2021 rankings, but it was back the following year. Canada continues to win big, with Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto in 5th, 7th, and 9th places.

So, what do these ratings signify? A score of 100 conveys that the city has ideal livability, while one means that the city's livability is intolerable. The categories are weighted differently, too; stability accounts for 25 percent of the total and considers the prevalence of petty and violent crime, the threat of terror, military conflict, and civil unrest, while health care, which accounts for 20 percent of the total, assesses the availability and quality of private and public health care and access to over-the-counter drugs. Education counts for the least amount — just 10 percent — and factors in the availability and quality of private as well as public education indicators.

Infrastructure accounts for 20 percent of the total, taking into consideration things like public transport, housing, energy and water provisions, and more. Finally, culture and environment, which makes up 25 percent of the total rating, cover a wide range of factors, including the level of corruption, humidity and temperature, censorship, food and drink, and more.

Many Western European cities have slipped down in the newest ranking due to stability issues. Edinburgh, for example, has fallen 23 spots, London has dropped 12, and Manchester and Rotterdam fell 16 each.

At the bottom of the list is war-torn Damascus in Syria and Tripoli in Libya. Ukraine's capital, Kyiv ranks 165th out of 173 cities.