The BBC has been exploring what makes people happy to live in the cities they populate, building on a 2025 Happy City Index released by the Institute for the Quality of Life.
The survey tracked 82 indicators of happiness across six 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 classed 31 cities as Gold Cities, those scoring highest marks across the six categories, with the Danish capital of Copenhagen topping the ranking, followed by Zurich in Switzerland and Singapore.
Copenhagen rated highly in the Environment and Economy categories, while Zurich received 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.
In the 2025 Happiest City Index, Singapore scored particularly well for Health, 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. Residents also appreciate how the city's infrastructure makes it easy to enjoy life.
One resident, who owns a Singapore-based business, told the BBC, "Beyond convenience, Singapore's policies around green space, safety and multicultural inclusivity really stand out. You can go from pitching a global client downtown to enjoying satay by the waterfront, all in the same evening.
TOP 10 GOLD "HAPPIEST" CITIES
- Copenhagen
- Zurich
- Singapore
- Aarhus
- Antwerp
- Seoul
- Stockholm
- Taipei
- Munich
- Rotterdam