The last couple of years has brought on a pandemic and, with it, higher awareness of the importance of taking care of one’s body and mind. Just now, we are experiencing the aftermaths that lockdowns and fear had on our mental health. So it is no wonder that more and more people are deciding that a drastic change in how we live is necessary. Here is a list of the top 5 healthiest cities in the world where life expectancy is the longest due to clean air, exercise, sunshine, working hours, and overall happiness levels.
However, no matter how much you take care of your body by exercising and eating organic, it does not matter if the air and water are polluted. In the end, if you wish to live healthily, you need a community of like-minded people that will support you on your journey to a better self.
Top 5 Healthiest Cities in the World
Amsterdam
One thing that puts Amsterdam above all other cities in Europe is the life expectancy of 81 years. The reason for this is their choice of bicycles as the main transportation. It led to a ban on cars in many streets throughout the city. Everyday exercises have considerably helped lower the sleep troubles that cause a higher risk of dying from diabetes, which in recent years has turned into a worldwide pandemic.
Additionally, the obesity levels are at 20.4% on average due to a choice of more than 400 outdoor activities that help keep their citizens healthy. However, it has only 1850 hours of sunshine per year, so if this is your main reason for picking a perfect place to live, you might want to avoid Amsterdam. But keep in mind that the country as a whole performed well on overall happiness levels with 7.43 and has an average of 27 working hours per week. All this puts it in the number one spot of healthiest cities in the world.
Sydney
If you are thinking about moving to Australia, the relocation team behind heartmoving.us argues that Sydney is the right choice. It is a place with the most sunshine, with an average of 2635 hours a year. However, it ranks a bit worse than Amsterdam regarding work, with about 33 working hours per week. Also, it has high living standards and its citizens keep up with the new world advances as the latest poll finds that every fourth Australian is willing to be paid in bitcoin. Likewise, they love to stay in shape even though the monthly gym pass is a bit pricey at 42 Australian dollars. More budget-friendly solutions are over 400 outdoor activities available throughout the city. No wonder their life expectancy is 82 years and their happiness level is at a whopping 7.20.
Vienna
The beautiful capital of Austria has a long-lasting arts and architecture history. You can explore it for several lifetimes and not see all the hidden gems hidden around the city. What makes it perfect for a healthier lifestyle is that it has a lower pollution level than Paris, London, and Barcelona. And bad air causes not only respiratory diseases and cancer, but a recent study also discovered that pollution might contribute to the loss of smell. Likewise, it has a low level of obesity at 20% and maintains a low gym membership price of 33 dollars. However, it does have a lower number of outdoor activities, only 132, but it is a bike-friendly city with 1,883 hours of sunshine. It also upholds a nationwide standard of 40 working hours per week that its citizens are totally satisfied with, as shown by a happiness level of 7.29
Stockholm
In the past decades, Stockholm has implemented many changes to help its citizens have a healthy life. It all started with major environmental laws that made it one of the cleanest cities in the world. They now have regulations that govern how much green area can maintain clean air (20/100), distribution of water, nontoxic farming, etc. They have a perfect work-life balance by working 30 hours per week, which raises their happiness level to 7.36. With 1,821 hours of sunshine and 129 outdoor activities, it is a perfect place to keep your body in shape. It is home to the beautiful Royal National City Park, which is six miles long and stretches through the city centre.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is, at the moment, the happiest city in the world with 7.64 even though it is one of the most expensive to live in. The capital of Denmark has an amazing work-life balance as people work only 28 hours a week on average. Also, like Amsterdam, many of its citizens do not enjoy cars and see them as a source of unnecessary pollution. Thus, every part of the city is accessible by 300km of well-connected and maintained bicycle lanes. Also, they have a number of designated areas where tourists can rent bikes and explore the city because they are highly conscious of the consequences of bad air and manage to keep it at a healthy 21/100. Unfortunately, this northern city does have 1,630 hours of sunshine which is lower than other cities on the list.
Final words
Whichever of the 5 healthiest cities in the world you decide to visit or relocate to, you will make the right choice. All of them have so much to offer, and there is no doubt you will love every minute of your stay.
