Four African Cities Ranked Among the World’s Least Liveable in 2026 Global Index
Four major African cities have been listed among the 10 least liveable cities in the world in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, underscoring the continuing challenges of insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, healthcare limitations and governance issues affecting several urban centres across the continent.
The annual report, which assessed 173 cities across the globe, evaluates how suitable cities are for everyday living based on five key indicators: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The findings provide valuable insights for governments, businesses, investors and expatriates seeking to understand the quality of life in major cities around the world.
Among African cities, Harare (Zimbabwe), Lagos (Nigeria), Algiers (Algeria), and Tripoli (Libya) all appeared in the global bottom 10, reflecting persistent socio-economic and political challenges that continue to undermine urban development.
Tripoli, the Libyan capital, emerged as Africa’s least liveable city and the second least liveable city in the world, ranking 172nd with an overall score of 41 out of 100. The city trails only Damascus, Syria, which ranked last globally. The ranking reflects the lingering effects of years of armed conflict, political instability and weakened public institutions that have severely affected public services and infrastructure.
Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, ranked 165th, making it the highest-ranked among the four African cities in the bottom 10. The city recorded a relatively strong education score of 67, demonstrating progress in educational access and quality. However, its healthcare score of just 33 significantly lowered its overall rating, highlighting continuing pressure on the country’s health system.
Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, was placed 168th globally with an overall score of 44. The city’s weakest performance came in the area of stability, where it scored 30, reflecting concerns over security and urban safety. Healthcare also remained below average with a score of 38, although Lagos performed comparatively better in infrastructure, scoring 54, indicating ongoing investments despite the pressures created by its rapidly growing population.
Algeria’s capital, Algiers, ranked 169th with an overall score of 43. While the city achieved a relatively stronger healthcare score of 54, its infrastructure score of 30 substantially reduced its overall standing, pointing to the need for greater investment in transportation, utilities and urban development.
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The report highlights that conflict, political instability, rapid urbanisation, inadequate investment in public infrastructure and strained healthcare systems remain major obstacles to improving the quality of life in many African cities. These structural challenges continue to affect residents’ daily lives and reduce the attractiveness of these cities for international businesses and expatriates.
Beyond Africa, other cities occupying the bottom 10 include Tehran (Iran), Kyiv (Ukraine), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Karachi (Pakistan), and Dhaka (Bangladesh). Their rankings further demonstrate how armed conflicts, economic uncertainty, security concerns and infrastructure deficits continue to shape liveability across different regions of the world.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index remains one of the world’s most respected assessments of urban living conditions. It is widely used by multinational companies, policymakers and international organisations to evaluate cities based on safety, healthcare, education, environmental quality, cultural opportunities and infrastructure, making it an important benchmark for measuring urban development and quality of life worldwide.
