Vienna Named World's Best City to Live in. Baghdad Ranks Worst

Vienna was named 2010’s most livable city, while Baghdad ranks the worst, according to Mercer, a U.K. firm that conducts an annual Worldwide Quality of Living Survey. This year, 221 cities around the world were ranked.

Photo: Vienna Named World's Best City to Live in. Baghdad Ranks Worst

Vienna Named World's Best City to Live in. Baghdad Ranks Worst

The guidelines for categorizing cities include 39 factors, which include political, social, and cultural elements, as well as housing, health, and sanitation. The report aims to help multinational companies provide compensation to their expatriates if the conditions of the host country are worse than those of their native land, The Epoch Times says.

Paris comes in only at 34, London at 39, Tokyo 40, Madrid 48 and New York at a lowly 49.

The list, aimed at government or multinational human resources departments, does not pretend to rank the most exciting or energetic cities, instead concentrating on stability, safety and public services, AFP reports.