Manchester named UK's most livable city

The capital of the north has been ranked the 28th most livable city in the world and the UK's number one in The Economist's prestigious annual ranking.

The Global Livability Index is published each year by The Economist, ranking 173 cities according to the quality of life for its residents. It bases its results on factors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, stability and environment.

Ranked at number 28 worldwide, Manchester retained its place as the highest rated city in the UK, above London which came in at number 33. It also beat some serious heavyweights such as New York, Barcelona and Milan.

European cities dominated, taking six of the ten top spots. Vienna reclaimed its place at number one, having topped the rankings in 2018 and 2019. Previously highly rated cities in Australia fell in the rankings as pandemic lockdowns were taken into consideration.

Manchester's success follows on from last year's Time Out survey which put the city at number three in its 37 Best Cities In The World behind San Francisco and Amsterdam.

The city's economy also continues to thrive. In its UK report, the EY Attractiveness Survey noted that Manchester's Foreign Direct Investment is second only to London. Irwin Mitchell's UK Powerhouse 2022 study  estimates that Manchester's economy will grow from £68 billion to £71 billion in the next 18 months, adding some 28,000 new jobs.

As the city goes from strength to strength, its housing shortage continues to deepen, most keenly felt in the city centre. "The residential market is crying out for new investors" according to JLL. 

Take a look at our latest Manchester city centre project