Why Nigeria and Zimbabwe rank among the world’s 10 most difficult places to live

This information comes from the Global Livability Index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The index evaluates cities based on five critical categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

According to the Global Livability Index, numerous African cities face significant challenges, including continuous economic pressures, rising insecurity, and under-resourced healthcare and education systems.

Cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt in Nigeria are grappling with overcrowding, inadequate healthcare, and increasing crime rates. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, suffers from hyperinflation and failing infrastructure.

The report assesses various factors affecting the quality of life in urban areas. Stability considers crime rates and civil unrest, while healthcare is evaluated based on the availability and quality of health services. Furthermore, the culture and environment category measures climate and recreation, and education focuses on access to schooling. Infrastructure evaluates transport, housing, and connectivity.

Overall, the livability rankings show that African cities, like Algiers and Tripoli, also struggle with severe challenges. For example, Libya's Tripoli faces ongoing conflict repercussions while Algiers deals with weak economic structures. Inadequate infrastructure and poor housing conditions exacerbate these issues.

Here’s a snapshot of the ten most difficult cities to live in according to the index:

1. Caracas, Venezuela

2. Kyiv, Ukraine

3. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

4. Harare, Zimbabwe

5. Lagos, Nigeria

6. Algiers, Algeria

7. Karachi, Pakistan

8. Dhaka, Bangladesh

9. Tripoli, Libya

10. Damascus, Syria

This ranking reveals just how significant the disparities are in global living conditions, particularly in war-torn or economically-strapped nations.