Global design and consultancy firm Arcadis has released its annual report on the most sustainable cities in the world.

The organisation ranked 100 cities in three sub-indexes — people, planet, and profit — as part of a report entitled "Sustainable Cities Index 2016: Putting people at the heart of city sustainability."
The "people" sub-index set out to find the city with the highest quality of life by rating eight metrics:
* Health (life expectancy and obesity)
* Education (literacy and universities)
* Income inequality

1. Seoul, South Korea
The South Korean capital has been named as the city with the world's highest quality of the life. Health and education rankings propelled Seoul to the top as 139 projects in 13 districts aim to transform the urban metropolis into a "safe, warm, dreaming, breathing city."
2. Rotterdam, Netherlands
Collaboration between the city's inhabitants and local government has contributed to its rise in the rankings. There are several initiatives in place to achieve a greener and more sustainable city which in turn boosts quality of life.
3. Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg boasts the highest quality of life of any German city and the second highest in Europe.
4. Vienna, Austria
Along with Stockholm, Vienna achieved one of the best balances between the three sub-indexes and therefore ranked highly overall as one of the world's most sustainable cities.
5. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is diverse and innovative and is the highest ranked of several German cities in the report. Berlin's waste management systems are environmentally friendly and low levels of air pollution provide ideal living conditions.
6. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague was the highest ranking eastern European city on the list.
7. Amsterdam, Netherlands
The capital of the Netherlands boasted one of the best balances across all three pillars — people, planet, and profit. 179 companies are headquartered in Amsterdam, and the city continues to invest in measures to improve the quality of life.
8. Munich, Germany
Munich is one of Germany's powerhouses and regularly performs well in quality of life indexes.
9. Muscat, Oma
Muscat was the only Middle-Eastern city make the ranking. Shisha bars line the streets and Muscatians can relax on the beach or visit one of the city's many shopping malls. The cost of living can be expensive though, especially if you don't have your own car.
10. Montreal, Canada
It may not be Canada's capital city, but Montreal has seen itself become the country's heart of commerce, technology, and finance
11. Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp is one of two cities in the small country of Belgium to make the list.
12. Brussels, Belgium
Brussels sat in the bottom end of the profit sub-index, but its position was boosted considerably by its performance in people and planet.
13. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona boasts a relatively low cost of living, low property prices, and beaches and historic parks to boot.
14. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm has recently seen its star rise as the cultural, political, and economic centre of Sweden. The city ranked highly across the board but enjoyed a particularly impressive second place in the planet sub-index.
15. Warsaw, Poland
It's not just Arcadis' report that hails Warsaw's high quality of life. The city also ranked 79th out of 221 cities in a world 'Quality of living' index by the Mercer advisory company.
16. Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt is fast becoming one of Europe's leading entrepreneurial and financial centres, but also provides its inhabitants with a quality of life to match.
17. Canberra, Australia
Of the four Australian cities on the list, the capital of Canberra ranked the highest.
18. Madrid, Spain
It's no surprise that Spain's largest city did so well in the ranking. The crime rate is fairly low according to Arcadis' report, and people who live there enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
19. Lyon, France
The entire city of Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and plenty of open spaces and communal areas provide people who live there an escape from city life.
20. Paris, France
Paris' work-life balance is one of the most enviable, but high property prices can be a problem.
21. Brisbane
Australia's third largest city by population also boasts the second highest quality of life in the country
22. Melbourne, Australia
The cost of living in Australia is notoriously high and that didn't help with Melbourne's standing, but it redeemed itself with a myriad of city parks and great healthcare and educational access.
23. Vancouver, Canada
A low level of crime and a healthy work-life balance for its inhabitants means Vancouver boasts one of the best qualities of life in the world
24. Copenhagen, Denmark
The Danish city ranked highly across all of Arcadis' sub-indexes, despite being very expensive.
25. Sydney, Australia
Several Australian cities appeared in the ranking. Low crime rates combined with a world-class education system meant Sydney performed well in the report. Its position was lowered by high house prices and cost of living.
26. Leeds, England
Leeds was the only British city to make the list. The northern city scored well across the board. Despite high unemployment and poor transport links, the city's ranking was bolstered by its city parks and proximity to the Yorkshire Dales

Canada suppose to be in the top 5 ....do your research well

Adonbilivit, wah of WARRi?

God, when will Nigeria begin to be ranked among the very good countries in the world?
Currently, we can only be ranked among the worst countries in the world in terms of the following:

Economic recession
Bad government policies
Insecurity
Worst sports development

If nor b America i nor dey go

These are mostly european cities. And I don't really like europe for personal reasons.. Would prefer north-america.
BTW, where is london in that list ?

derespect:
God, when will Nigeria begin to be ranked among the very good countries in the world?
Currently, we can only be ranked among the worst countries in the world in terms of the following:

Economic recession
Bad government policies
Insecurity
Worst sports development

don't worry... lagos, abuja, ph will soon come of age and some states in south east.

theEYe21:
Canada suppose to be in the top 5 ....do your research well

I didn't do the research. those other countries that you think shouldn't be on the list have you been there?

Completely agree about Barcelona! Amazing city! It is really not expensive due to economic crisis in Spain ( we rented excellent apartments at Lugaris for loyal price), the sea is fantastic, the architecture is unreal. Thanks for your post!