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The view from Liberty Hall in Dublin looking over the Custom House. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Hey Dubs, are you happy? You should be, you're in the 34th best city in the world

According to business consultants Mercer anyway.

DUBLINERS SHOULD BE the 34th happiest urbanites in the world according to business consultants Mercer.

That’s because Ireland’s capital has been placed 34 on a list of 223 cities in Mercer’s Quality of Living Ranking. Dublin’s place in the list puts it above London, which is in at 38, but below a range of central European cities which dominate the list.

Vienna was found to be top of the livability pile, beating nearby Zurich into second place.

Some of Ireland’s recent emigrants may be experiencing a better quality of life than those of us still on these shores, with Auckland in New Zealand being named as the world’s third most livable city and Vancouver on Canada’s west coast in fifth.

Mercer say that their research is undertaken to help multinationals organisations compensate their expat employees and say that they analyze 39 different factors in 10 categories.

Mercer’s Noel O’Connor says that Dublin’s relatively high place on the list is due to a number of reasons.

“Some of the factors placing Dublin firmly in the top 50 for quality of living worldwide include our educational facilities, lower levels of air pollution and recreational and social activities,” he said.

European cities enjoy a high overall quality of living compared to those in other regions. Healthcare, infrastructure, and recreational facilities are generally of a very high standard. Political stability and relatively low crime levels enable expatriates to feel safe and secure in most locations.

image

The dance floor at the state opera in Vienna, Austria. Pic: (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

Worldwide

The highest ranking Asian city on the list is Singapore which is in 25th place overall, with Japanese capital Tokyo in 43rd.

In the Middle East and Africa region Dubai is the highest ranked city, even though it fails to break the top 50 in 73rd place. The highest ranking city on the African continent is Durban in South Africa in 85th position.

Overall, the United States fared rather poorly compared to their northern neighbours, with Canadian cities making up four of the top five positions in North America, with only San Francisco getting through in fifth place.

Iraqi capital Baghdad was the lowest ranked city in terms of livability in 223rd place.

The Top 5

1. Vienna, Austria.
2. Zurich, Switzerland.
3. Auckland, New Zealand
4. Munich, Germany.
5. Vancouver, Canada.

Read: How is Ireland feeling? Europe-wide survey looks at loneliness, health, and chores >

Read: The 10 developed countries with the worst quality of life >

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161 Comments
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Oct 9th 2015, 11:37 AM

    A millionaire for a moment…

    269
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    Mute Diarmuid Lucey
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    Oct 9th 2015, 11:43 AM

    Exactly, who is he fooling, it was all about the money!

    65
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    Mute John Staunton
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    Oct 9th 2015, 11:57 AM

    how so, he didn’t get any money unless u are saying he’s taking a wage from the charity.

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    Mute Jordan O'Byrne
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    Oct 9th 2015, 3:18 PM

    Like sinn fein td’s would have you believe you mean.
    “We only take a living wage” they cry
    “Where’s the rest of the money go, you don’t give it back to the govt”
    “We hire staff in our local offices to get round the annual personal donation limits to political parties”
    “So you use the money you say you’re not taking to hire more people to work for Sinn Fein thereby furthering your own political parties interests whilst claiming that you personally don’t benefit from it.”
    “Ermm, I have to go see if any online domains haven’t been renewed….”

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    Mute DisruptiveTechnology
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    Oct 9th 2015, 5:07 PM

    well its a damn sight better than the greedy corrupt troika party politicians give up…

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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Oct 9th 2015, 5:11 PM

    No comment to make on the article?

    17
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Oct 9th 2015, 11:57 AM

    Fran stop fecking about with those numbers and go back in your secure unit

    51
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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Oct 9th 2015, 1:22 PM

    Leave him alone. he’s entertaining and doesn’t do anyone any harm.

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Oct 9th 2015, 2:25 PM

    “Gus Sheridan” = 11 Characters.

    You must be another one of them.

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    Mute Frank's Cat
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    Oct 9th 2015, 6:52 PM

    Pronnsias = 9 letters
    McCarthaigh = 11 letters

    9/11

    9+1+1 = 11

    Also, I’ve left you a dead mouse by the back door.

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Oct 9th 2015, 11:48 AM

    $12 = € 10.57

    # 13

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    Mute Left, left, stop
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    Oct 9th 2015, 11:54 AM

    Tomorrow that will change #CurrencyFluctuations

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Oct 9th 2015, 12:28 PM

    On 29 September, when the purchase took place, the exchange rate was 1.00=1.1242, meaning $12 = €10.67. Currently, $12 = €10.56. I’m afraid your maths is wrong, Frank.

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    Mute Babadook
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    Oct 9th 2015, 1:16 PM

    Am I the only one not getting this number lark

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    Mute Frank's Cat
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    Oct 9th 2015, 1:19 PM

    Don’t knock the numbers!

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Oct 9th 2015, 2:23 PM

    Left, left, stop_ Tomorrow we will get another story to match tomorrow’s rates.

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    Mute johnnyblaze2004
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    Oct 9th 2015, 6:01 PM

    cool story bro

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