Vancouver ranked fourth in Mercer's 2010 Quality of Living Survey, making it the top-rated city in North America.
Vancouver placed fourth overall for the second consecutive year, tying with Auckland, New Zealand. Only Vienna, Austria, Zurich, Switzerland and Geneva, Switzerland ranked higher in the survey that measures quality of life.
The survey, conducted by business analysts Mercer, ranks cities based on 39 criteria, including political and economic environment, health care, education, recreational activities, housing and natural environment.
Other Canadian cities in the top 25 are Ottawa ranked 14th, Toronto 16th and Montreal 21st. Calgary ranked 28 on the overall quality of living ranking.
The Iraqi capital of Baghdad ranked at the bottom of the list.
This year, Mercer created a new "eco-city" list that ranks cities according to water quality, waste removal, sewage, air pollution and traffic congestion.
Vancouver ranked 13th on Mercer's eco-city list, tied with Montreal, Nurnberg, Germany. Calgary took top spot on the list while Ottawa ranked fourth.
Here are the top 25 cities according to Mercer's 2010 Quality of Living Survey
1. Vienna, Austria
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Geneva, Switzerland
4. Vancouver
4. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
7. Frankfurt, Germany
7. Munich, Germany
9. Bern, Switzerland
10. Sydney, Australia
11. Copenhagen, Denmark
12. Wellington, New Zealand
13. Amsterdam, Netherlands
14. Ottawa
15. Brussels, Belgium
16. Toronto
17. Berlin, Germany
18. Melbourne, Australia
19. Luxembourg
20. Stockholm, Sweden
21. Perth, Australia
21. Montreal
23. Hamburg, Germany
24. Nurnburg, Germany
24. Oslo, Norway
Here are Mercer's Top 25 Eco-cities:
1. Calgary
2. Honolulu, USA
3. Ottawa
3. Helsinki, Finland
5. Welington, New Zealand
6 Minneapolis, USA
7. Adelaide, Australia
8. Copenhagen, Denmark
9. Kobe, Japan
9. Oslo, Norway
9. Stockholm, Sweden
12. Perth, Australia
13. Montreal
13. Vancouver
13. Nurnberg, Germany
13. Auckland, New Zealand
13. Bern, Switzerland
13. Pittsburgh, USA
19. Zurich, Switzerland
19. Aberdeen, UK
21. Canberra, Australia
22. Singapore
23. Brisbane, Australia
23. Washington, USA
25. Melbourne, Australia
25. Geneva, Switzerland
