Karachi has once again been ranked among the five least liveable cities in the world, according to the latest global survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
Out of 173 cities evaluated, Karachi placed 170th — only marginally ahead of Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tripoli (Libya), and Damascus (Syria) — with a livability score of just 42.7 out of 100. The score reflects poor performance in several key areas including healthcare, infrastructure, education, culture and environment, and overall stability.
Karachi remains the only Pakistani city included in the EIU’s global livability index and continues to perform poorly year after year. In 2023, it was ranked 169th, and in prior years, it was grouped with other bottom-tier cities such as Lagos, Algiers, and Tripoli.
At the other end of the spectrum, European cities dominated the top rankings: Copenhagen led the list with a score of 98, followed by Vienna and Zurich (both at 97.1), Melbourne (97.0), and Geneva (96.8).
The EIU’s annual index is widely used by multinational companies to determine hardship allowances for employees relocated abroad.
Karachi’s low ranking is consistent with other assessments of urban decline in Pakistan. An October report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlighted the deteriorating quality of life in the country’s major cities, citing worsening congestion, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure. The ADB also pointed to growing socioeconomic divides in Karachi, noting that the city’s wealthy live in gated cantonments or private societies, while low-income populations are concentrated in overcrowded areas like Karachi East.
Ethnic and religious divisions, combined with chronic governance issues, have contributed to periodic violence and instability in the city. The report further noted that Karachi is one of the few Pakistani cities expanding vertically due to limited land availability and pressing housing demands.
In addition to its low livability ranking, Karachi was also named the second riskiest city for tourists in a July Forbes Adviser report, scoring 93.12 out of 100 on a risk scale. The assessment cited high levels of crime, terrorism, infrastructure challenges, and natural disaster vulnerability. The U.S. State Department also maintains a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory for the city, underscoring serious safety concerns.
As Karachi continues to grapple with rapid urbanization, poor governance, and deep-rooted inequality, experts warn that without substantial reform, the city is likely to remain among the world’s most challenging places to live.
