“A city is what it is because its citizens are what they are.” (PLATO)

The first edition of the Healthy City Index presents a new international perspective on urban health, wellbeing and the conditions that shape everyday life in cities. Developed as a dedicated sub-index within the broader Happy City Index research framework, the study brings together a shared methodology, extensive global cooperation and a strong focus on the environments that enable healthier urban living.

A global perspective on healthy urban development

The Healthy City Index highlights cities that create supportive conditions for physical health, mental wellbeing, social inclusion and access to services that matter in daily life. Rather than celebrating a single “best” city, the Index identifies places that combine strong public policy, good urban conditions and a long-term commitment to residents’ wellbeing.

This approach allows the study to present a more balanced picture of health in cities, showing how urban quality is shaped not only by medical systems, but also by the broader social, environmental and civic context in which people live.

A robust and internationally coordinated research process

The 2026 edition reflects a substantial global research effort. Over a multi-month period, contributors gathered, reviewed and validated a large body of comparable information using a unified methodology designed to support consistent international comparison.

Built on the research capacity developed through the Happy City Index, the Healthy City Index uses a dedicated analytical lens to explore how cities perform in relation to health, inclusion, quality of life and urban resilience.

More than a ranking: a tool for learning, reflection and better policy

The Healthy City Index is intended not only as a comparative ranking, but as a practical framework for reflection and improvement. It is designed to support dialogue among city leaders, researchers and practitioners who want to better understand the urban conditions that strengthen long-term health and wellbeing.

By bringing together comparable evidence from a large international sample of cities, the Index helps identify patterns, shared challenges and examples of good practice. In this sense, it serves as a platform for policy learning as much as for public recognition.

First Healthy City Index

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