A new report from The Economist magazine places Honolulu among the top 10 cities worldwide for improved livability — or “liveability,” as it is spelled in the report by the London-based publication.

The report surveyed 140 cities worldwide across five categories: stability (including prevalence of violent crime), healthcare (including availability of over-the-counter drugs), culture and environment (including humidity and levels of censorship), education (including availability of private education), and infrastructure (including quality of public transport).

Honolulu is classified among cities having the “most improved liveability scores” over five years. Others in that ranking include Warsaw, Poland; Beijing, China; Kathmandu, Nepal; and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Waikiki diamond head skyline. Honolulu, Hawaii.  27 march 2015. photograph Cory Lum/Civil Beat

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Honolulu has the highest ranking among the top 10 “most-improved” cities, and it ranks No. 19 overall.

Cities that have failed the most in terms of livability improvement include Damascus, Syria; Kiev, Ukraine; Athens, Greece; and Detroit.

The report says, “Those that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density. These can foster a range of recreational activities without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure.”

Seven of the top 10 scoring cities are in Australia and Canada.

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