By Esther Bassey
A new global ranking has revealed the world’s least liveable cities, highlighting regions where conflict, economic hardship, and poor infrastructure continue to undermine residents’ daily lives.
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From war-torn Syria to congested African capitals, these cities struggle to provide safety, stability, and basic amenities.
According to recent reports on global liveability and quality of life, the following seven cities rank among the world’s worst places to live in 2025:
1. Damascus, Syria
Still reeling from over a decade of civil war, Damascus remains the lowest-ranked city for liveability.
Constant insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and limited access to healthcare and electricity make daily life extremely difficult for its residents.
2. Baghdad, Iraq
Though Iraq has made strides toward stability, Baghdad continues to face sporadic violence, political uncertainty, and unreliable public services.
Infrastructural decay and pollution have also contributed to its low ranking.
3. Khartoum, Sudan
The Sudanese capital has been plagued by political turmoil and ongoing clashes between rival factions.
Severe economic challenges and collapsing public institutions have worsened living conditions in the city.
4. Bangui, Central African Republic
Bangui’s struggles with poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment persist, leaving residents with minimal access to clean water, electricity, and healthcare.
Decades of instability have kept the city near the bottom of global quality-of-life indices.
5. Sana’a, Yemen
The Yemeni capital has suffered immensely from conflict and humanitarian crises.
Bombings, hunger, and a breakdown in essential services have made it one of the hardest places in the world to survive, let alone thrive.
6. Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Haiti’s capital continues to face political unrest, rampant gang violence, and weak governance.
Frequent natural disasters, poor sanitation, and lack of clean water worsen its already dire living conditions.
7. Lagos, Nigeria
Despite being West Africa’s commercial hub, Lagos battles overpopulation, severe traffic congestion, flooding, and high crime rates.
Poor urban planning and weak infrastructure continue to strain the city’s livability score.
Experts note that while some of these cities were once thriving centres of culture and commerce, years of instability, neglect, and poor governance have eroded their quality of life.
As global urbanisation continues to rise, the rankings serve as a reminder that safety, infrastructure, and governance remain central to creating cities where people can live and prosper.
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