Karachi Ranked Among World’s Least Livable Cities in Global Index

Pakistan’s economic powerhouse has been ranked 170th out of 173 cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) 2025 Global Livability Index, placing it alongside conflict-ridden urban centers like Damascus, Tripoli, and Lagos. With a dismal score of 42.7/100, the megacity continues its downward trajectory in urban livability.

Key Findings

• Bottom Four Placement: Only Algiers (171st), Port Moresby (172nd), and Dhaka (173rd) ranked worse
• Critical Categories: Poor scores in stability (35%), infrastructure (46%), and healthcare (50%) dragged down rankings
• Global Comparison: Copenhagen topped the list (98/100), followed by Vienna and Zurich

Persistent Decline

This continues Karachi’s worrying trend:
Ranked 169th in 2023
Declared “increasingly unlivable” by Asian Development Bank (2024)
Named second most dangerous city for tourists (July 2024 report)

Root Causes

Experts cite:

• Chronic mismanagement and governance failures
• Extreme urban segregation (cantonments vs. informal settlements)
• Crime, terrorism risks, and environmental degradation
• Collapsing infrastructure amid rapid population growth

Urban analyst Taha Saleem notes:
“Karachi generates 70% of Pakistan’s revenue but gets back pennies in development. Without radical governance reforms, this freefall will continue.”

The Human Impact

The city’s 30 million residents face:

• 12-hour daily power outages in some areas
• 60% of population lacking clean water access
• World’s worst commute times (avg. 62 mins for 15km)

Way Forward

• Civil society demands:
• Metropolitan authority with real fiscal powers
• Equitable resource distribution beyond elite zones
• Emergency infrastructure investment