Each year the international consulting firm Mercer does a survey to evaluate the quality of living in 215 cities around the world. This year's survey results give Vienna top grades , ranking Austria's capital as the World's Most Livable City .

For the first time, Vienna was able to surpass Zurich, which has led the city ranking for the past 8 years. The survey compares the political , social and economic climate , medical care , education , and infrastructural conditions such as public transportation , power and water supply.

It also takes into consideration recreational offers such as restaurants, theaters, cinemas, sports facilities, the availability of all kinds of consumer goods from food to cars, as well as environmental conditions - from green space to air pollution.

Additional top placings for Vienna:

Consulting company Roland Berger reviewed ten capital cities in Central and Eastern Europe for attractiveness, quality of life, standard of education, innovativeness and infrastructure. Here as well Vienna is clearly out in front and achieved top place ahead of Prague and Budapest.

The "European Green City Index" furthermore confirmed that Vienna is also at the forefront in the eco sector. The study conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of Siemens investigated 30 cities in 30 European countries for their performance and ambitions in environmental and climate protection. Vienna occupied first place among the million-strong cities and fourth place in the overall ranking.

www.mercer.com

www.rolandberger.at

w1.siemens.com/entry/cc/en/urbanization.htm?section=green_index