Are we living better? Research Review: Part III

Life in one country can sometimes change dramatically after moving to another city - this is influenced by factors such as urban policy, job availability, infrastructure and cultural offer. Internal migration is most often caused by the desire to improve living conditions and find better-paid jobs or to go to study at larger university centers.

For years there have been rankings of not only the best countries to live, but also cities that are attractive not only for tourism, but also for their high quality of life, public services, care for the environment and general well-being.

We check rankings and research: Happy City Index 2025, Europe's Best Cities Report and OECD Regional Wellbeing.

Globally: Happy Index City 2025

In the worldwide Happy Index City 2025 survey, the capital of Denmark ranks first in the latest ranking of the happiest city. Copenhagen scored a total of 1039 points in the rating. In each category, she scored 237 points for citizenship, 177 for management, 192 for environment, 182 for economy, 149 for health and 101 for mobility. In the ranking itself, Danish cities appeared most often and usually in high positions, which says a lot about the good state condition of Denmark. So what exactly is behind the indicators used in the study?

Citizen indicator: Conscious implementation of advanced social policies, focusing on education, inclusiveness and the overall quality of life of its inhabitants. Cities with high numbers on this indicator are places where intensive and deliberate efforts are being made to ensure sustainable access to public services and where every citizen is expected to be able to participate fully in society.

• Education: high educational attainment at the local level, exceeding national averages.
• Adult Education: Strong emphasis on adult education, including the development of digital skills and foreign language skills.
• Culture: Developed commitment to culture — the presence of libraries, community spaces and institutions that support intellectual activity, especially among seniors.
• Availability for learning: good accessibility of higher education and research centres, assessed in terms of reputation, achievements and affordability.
• Innovation and Creativity: a high level of innovation and creativity, as well as openness to new social and technological solutions.
• Housing affordability: analysis of the cost of renting and purchasing housing in the context of accessibility and friendliness for residents.

Cities with the highest number of points in this category: Copenhagen, Tokyo, Seoul.

Management indicator: quality of urban governance, i.e. active participation of citizens in decision-making processes as well as support for the non-governmental sector (NGOs). Well-managed cities are those that implement electronic services, which reduces the time of interaction of residents with the administration and exploits local potential through well-thought-out development strategies and structural actions adapted to the specifics of the city. In practice, this effectiveness can be seen in the involvement of citizens in local elections, which is an indicator of effective and inclusive governance.

Cities with the highest number of points in this category: New York, Vienna, Berlin, Shanghai.

Environmental Index: In what is a deep responsibility for the environment manifested? These include the promotion of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and actions taken in favor of clean air (PM10). This indicator also assessed urban sustainability strategies, waste management, recycling levels and the quality of water and sewerage infrastructure. No less important was the creation of green spaces, parks and protected areas.

Cities with the highest number of points in this category: Vancouver, Paris, Taipei

Economic indicator: this part of the study was heavily focused on numbers and data. They showed the economic development, the number of newly registered companies in a given year and the number of registered companies in general. The assessment also included the conditions for the development of the companies formed by the city, the unemployment rate and the level of wages in relation to the national average, as well as the amount of expenses. Other important factors include: innovation data at the national level, such as the number of registered patents and the number of international business affiliations.

Cities with the highest number of points in this category: Nashville, Singapore, Geneva.

Health indicator: A healthy society is a safer, happier and more productive society. In this area, the focus is on the living conditions, physical and mental health of residents. Access to medical care, psychological support (including in schools), vaccination programmes and medical personnel were assessed. Life expectancy, mental well-being, number of vacation days, average working time, as well as obesity and type 2 diabetes rates were taken into account. New data that had previously been rarely analyzed in urban rankings were taken into account.

Cities with the highest number of points in this category: Munich, Amsterdam, The Hague.

Mobility Index: The quality and accessibility of public transport have a direct impact on the comfort of life. The development and quality of transport networks, their accessibility for people with disabilities and the number of interchange hubs were identified in the development of the mobility index. E-services (mobile payments, apps, trip planners) and traffic safety — including the number of accidents and fatalities — were also analysed. Traffic management strategies and the implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are considered.

Cities with the highest number of points in this category: London, Gdynia, Beijing.

Overall, the cities that were indicated as the happiest to live in the ranking enjoyed attention to local politics and civic activities. Their economy was more sustainable and services affordable. The top 10 included: Copenhagen (Denmark), Zurich (Switzerland), Singapore (Singapore), Aarhus (Denmark), Antwerp (Belgium), Seoul (South Korea), Stockholm (Sweden), Taipei (Taiwan), Munich (Germany) and Rotterdam (Netherlands).

The cities that scored the least points in the survey included: Pula (Croatia), Houston (USA), Ankara (Turkey), Panama (Panama), Riga (Latvia), Bridgetown (Barbados), Quebec (Canada), Makati (Philippines), Guadalajara (Mexico) and Podgorica (Montenegro).

How did Warsaw fare in the research?

In the Happy Index City 2025 ranking, Warsaw took 175 place with 582 points summed up from all categories.

Below we present the development of the areas that have made up the image of well-being in our capital.

1. Availability of services: Of the 17 regions in Poland, Warsaw ranks 1st and compared to all OECD regions, the Mazovia region is in the top 5% in terms of access to services. Almost everyone has access to the Internet, but only a few use really fast connections, which can be a barrier to full participation in digital social and economic life.
2. Citizenship: The Warsaw Capital Region stands out in Poland in terms of citizen engagement, and also shows good results on the international scene. High voter turnout is the main factor influencing this result.
3. Education: Warsaw is an educational leader not only in Poland, but also internationally. The high level of education of the inhabitants provides a solid basis for the further development of the region, innovation and social well-being.
4. Work: 9,8/10 This is a very high rating, testifying to the excellent situation on the labor market in the region. The region is at the forefront of the world when it comes to the health of the labor market - approaching the results of the largest global economic centers. The capital region of Warsaw is distinguished by the excellent condition of the labor market - a high level of employment and very low unemployment. This is one of the best results not only in Poland, but also in the OECD as a whole.
5. Community: The Warsaw Capital Region is characterized by a strong network of social relations and a high level of mutual support. Although it is not a leader in Poland or in the OECD, this result demonstrates a healthy social capital and a solid foundation for civic and community action.
6. Environment: 4.0 out of 10 is a low rating, indicating serious environmental challenges, especially in the context of air quality. The high concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has a negative impact on the health of residents - it can increase the risk of respiratory and circulatory diseases.
7. Revenues: The capital region of Warsaw has the highest income in Poland and quite a good position in the OECD. Despite a moderate score, the disposable income of residents provides a relatively high level of comfort of life compared to other regions of Central and Eastern Europe.
8. Health: Although Warsaw is the leader in public health in Poland, it does poorly in comparison with the OECD. Shorter life expectancy and higher mortality indicate the need for further investment in prevention, the availability of health services and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. More than 3/4 of the OECD regions have better health indicators — both in terms of life expectancy and mortality.
9. Safety: Warsaw is generally a safe place to live, with very low levels of violence, though not the best on a national scale. Against the OECD background, it is average, suggesting the potential for further improvement, especially in the context of public safety and prevention.
10. Housing: Although our capital compares well with Poland, problems with the availability and spaciousness of housing make the region rank low in the OECD ranking. This is a clear signal of the need to develop housing policy, invest in construction and increase the availability of living space.
11. Satisfaction with life: Warsaw stands out in Poland in terms of life satisfaction, but remains below average on the OECD scale. This indicates the need to improve living conditions, health, the environment or work-life balance in order to increase the general sense of well-being of residents.

It is worth mentioning that last year, in the annual ranking Europe's Best Cities Report Warsaw was among the top 20 countries - appreciated for its economic development and numerous investments, including the already famous Museum of Modern Art near the Palace of Culture. As an example of an investment eagerly visited by tourists, the Warsaw Brewery in Wola was also given.

Every year, more than 180 cities from all over Europe are evaluated in the ranking. The main metropolitan centers with a population of more than 500,000 are primarily subject to the survey. The Best Cities ranking focuses on how effectively cities attract talent, tourists and investors, and its methodology is based on a wide range of indicators. It includes both statistical data and opinions of residents and visitors, including reviews and ratings published on platforms such as Tripadvisor, Google, Facebook or Instagram. Warsaw took 19th place (just after Budapest) in the top five (from 1st place): London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid.

summary

Although Warsaw ranks very well against Poland — among others in the areas of education, employment and accessibility of services — it ranks in the middle in international rankings (Happy Index City, OECD, Best Cities Report), with significant challenges in the field of environment, health and housing. Global comparisons show that the quality of life depends not only on economic indicators, but also on the balance between the comfort of everyday life and sustainability and community.

Sources:

1. https://um.warszawa.pl/waw/markawarszawa/-/europe-s-best-cities-report-2024-1

2. https://www.oecdregionalwellbeing.org/PL91.html

3. https://happy-city-index.com