Dhaka has fallen to 171st place out of 173 cities in the 2025 Global Livability Index, making it the third least livable city globally surpassing only Tripoli, Libya, and Damascus, Syria. This is a three-place drop from its position last year. The index assesses cities through five important aspects: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. In the most recent rankings, Dhaka received very low scores for infrastructure (26.8 out of 100), healthcare (41.7), and culture/environment (40.5). It achieved a stability score of 45, and education performed somewhat better with a score of 66.7. The city’s overall score stands at only 41.7. Several critical challenges contribute to this ranking. Poor road networks, frequent traffic congestion, and rundown public transport affect daily life. Healthcare services are overstretched, and public facilities are insufficient for the city’s vast population. Environmental concerns include high levels of pollution, inadequate green spaces, and compromised cultural amenities. By contrast, top-ranked cities like Copenhagen scored near-perfect marks—100 in stability, infrastructure, and education, and above 95 in healthcare and environment—attaining an overall score of 98. This contrast highlights significant disparities in quality of life between developed and developing cities. Dhaka’s population has now exceeded 20 million, leading to a greater need for existing services. Issues like traffic congestion, flooding, pollution, and restricted access to health and education services result in significant challenges. The city’s rapid vertical expansion has further worsened challenges around city planning and the provision of public utilities. Moving forward, experts suggest several improvements: Infrastructure upgrades: Improve roads, efficient public transit, and reliable utilities to streamline urban living. Healthcare investment: Expand access to hospitals and clinics to meet demand. Environmental action: Increase urban greenery, strengthen pollution control, and improve cultural amenities. Education enhancement: Build and staff more schools, while improving facilities and access. Implementing these steps would require strong collaboration between city planners, central government, and local authorities. Public-private partnerships could fast-track infrastructure projects and service improvements. Involving NGOs and community groups could support healthcare outreach and environmental initiatives. In summary, Dhaka’s poor performance—171st globally with a score of 41.7—underscores the urgent need for coordinated action. Strategic investments in urban infrastructure, healthcare, environment, and education could significantly improve life in the city. With thoughtful planning and sustained effort, Dhaka can rise from the bottom ranks and offer a better quality of life for its citizens.
