Did you know that friends, family and a sense of community all can lead to happiness, but the environment you live in can also have a huge impact on your wellbeing. What makes a happy city to live in? ORIGINAL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Top ten happiest cities to live in in the world.
INTRODUCTION:
To find out, researchers at the Institute for the Quality of Life recently released their 2025 Happy City Index, tracking 82 indicators of happiness across six major categories including Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health and Mobility. The index measured the policies that contribute to the quality of life, as well as their implementation and impact on residents.
The index noted that no city should ultimately be considered “the happiest”, instead naming a group of 31 cities that made the “Gold Cities” list, indicating especially strong scores across all metrics. To find out what kind of policies and features truly make up a “happy city”, we spoke to residents living in the five top-scoring places around the world.
VOCABULARY: Government, Govern, Governor, Governance
GRAMMAR: In the third line the word ” implementation ” What is the verb?
DISCUSS: The positives of living in your town or city.
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark frequently ranks in the happiest countries index, so perhaps it’s no surprise that its capital city received the highest overall score. Copenhagen scores exceptionally well in the Environment category, which ranks its green spaces, sustainability and waste management; and the Economy category, which factors in items like GDP, median salary and overall innovation and international company presence.
VOCABULARY: Management, Manage, Manager, Mismanage, Mismanagement
GRAMMAR: What is another way of saying “median salary” ?
DISCUSS: Discuss the negatives of living in your town or city.
2. Zurich, Switzerland
Ranked second highest in the index, Switzerland’s largest city received especially high marks in the Citizens category as well as the Governance category, which measures citizen participation in government policies and access to digital services to improve life for residents.
This overall ease of living makes it much more stress-free, according to residents. “As a mum of two, Zurich is the perfect place to raise a family,” said resident Raquel Matos Gonçalves, who helps residents relocate to Switzerland through her company Expat You. “The main pain points of daily life are fully addressed: very safe (kids can go to school alone from kindergarten); public transport that is always on time; and Zurich is an exceptionally clean and organised city.”
VOCABULARY: Participate, Participant, Participation
GRAMMAR: Suggest variants of the word “citizen”
DISCUSS: How could you suggest strategies to make your life more stress free?
3. Singapore
The city-state of Singapore often ranks high in various indexes, especially as one of the happiest countries in Asia due to its ease of doing business, cleanliness and infrastructure. In the 2025 Happiest City Index, it scored particularly well in the newly created Health metric, which tracks overall safety, public health initiatives like vaccinations and financial protection for health expenses.
It also ranked high in Governance, a metric where residents have seen policies ease the cost-of-living burden that has plagued other cities around the world. “While Singapore has become really expensive, a good and early public housing scheme (HDB) along with rising housing prices has helped many Singaporeans to have not only a home but a financial asset that could potentially be cashed out for retirement or emergencies,” said resident Hwee-Boon Yar. “The tiny island’s size and neighbours has been a strong force to ensure the city stays competitive, yet friendly with other countries.”
VOCABULARY: Potential, Potentially
GRAMMAR: What is a “city-state?
DISCUSS: In terms of “governance” how involved do you feel in the decision making of your local government?
4. Aarhus, Denmark
As Denmark’s second-largest city, Aarhus often gets called the “world’s smallest big city”, something that helps residents stay happy by combining urban amenities with a small community feel. The city scored well across all metrics, but especially in Citizens, Environment and Health – factors that residents say come across in the ease of life here.
“Joy is seamlessly woven into daily life – not through extravagance, but through intentional design,” said resident Carla Niña Pornelos. “I remember cycling to a community dinner on a rooftop garden overlooking the harbour, realising how accessible happiness can be when a city genuinely supports wellbeing.”
VOCABULARY: Woven, Weave, Wove
GRAMMAR: What does the term “across all metrics” mean?
DISCUSS: Talk about the urban amenities supplied by your local government, are they good are insufficient. Make suggestion as how to improve.
5. Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp managed to inch out larger sister-city Brussels in the Happy Cities index, with higher scores in the Citizens, Government and Environment categories. Residents praise its reliable public transportation, its safe and easy cycling and its compact size – all of which making getting around quick and easy.
“I moved to Antwerp in my late 20s expecting a charming city with good food and beautiful architecture, but I’ve stayed because of how livable it is,” said resident Grace Carter. “There’s a calm efficiency here that you start to feel in your day-to-day.”
VOCABULARY: Live, Livable, Unlivable Lived, Live, Living
GRAMMAR: What does the phrasal verb “to inch out” mean?
DISCUSS: Discuss the recycling strategies within your locality.
HOMEWORK EXERCISE:
Write a 200 word essay on what you thing makes the perfect city to live in and why.