What Are The World's Healthiest Cities, And What Makes A City Healthy?

Six in 10 people will live in urban areas by 2030, the World Health Organization estimates. Life in cities poses some real health challenges that people in rural areas simply don't encounter on the same level, from being the perfect "petri dishes" for the spread of communicable diseases, to logistical problems, air pollution, and, often, large slums lacking even the most-needed hygiene. 

What are the healthiest cities to live in on a global level, and what does it take for a city to be considered "healthy"?

What Makes A City 'Healthy'?

"A healthy city is one that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential," the World Health Organization explains, arguably in rather esoteric terms. Why couldn't they have come up with something simpler and more comprehensive?

The WHO, then, believes — taking into account that many cities the world over lack proper sanitation, for instance — that a "healthy" city is one that is actively committed to improving the wellbeing of those who live there, whether or not they've already achieved their goals. 

Some of the things that are ultimately essential to a truly healthy city are:

• Proper sanitation
• Clean drinking water
• Healthcare accessible all, not just the rich
• Clean air and a lack of environmental pollution
• Green spaces
• Mental health services
• A good quality of life

There is, then, not a single measure that can determine how healthy a city currently is. While we can and should take a look at amenities already available, the WHO is ultimately right that it takes a commitment to furthering public health for a city to find itself on any "healthy cities" list. 

Those cities that are commonly considered healthy places to live all have their own health perks, along with downsides. Let's take a look. 

Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan, is the largest city in the world. It may not come to mind as a "healthy city" at first sight — people from other countries tend to see the Japanese as overworked, and they frequently come across reports about student suicide rates — but the fact is that this bustling metropolis of around 35 million people has plenty of health perks. One of those is the city's hyper-modern transportation system that cuts average commute times down to just an hour and reduces its greenhouse gas emissions immensely. In fact, Tokyo is nowhere to be found on the huge 1215-item list of the most polluted cities in the world! 

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Japan has the highest life expectancy of any country on Earth, in part because of its very efficient and modern healthcare system; a healthcare system that is universally accessible, with citizens required by law to carry health insurance and the government picking up 70 percent of their healthcare costs.

The downside? After the Fukushima disaster, radiation levels in Tokyo were found to be 20 times higher than they should be, though still not at levels considered to be dangerous. 

The World's Healthiest Cities

Singapore

This five-million odd strong city state is universally known for its cleanliness, something that certainly contributes to overall wellbeing. It is also home to one of the most advanced healthcare systems of the world. Singapore's life expectancy is ranked fourth, while its infant mortality rate is the second lowest on Earth. Meanwhile, with its efforts to reduce car traffic and its amazing public transit system, Singapore is definitely working towards reducing CO2 emissions. 

The downside? Air pollution levels can sometimes reach unhealthy levels, but Singapore still doesn't find itself on the list of most-polluted cities in the world. 

Reykjavik

Iceland's largest city is breathtaking in beauty, but don't let that fool you: it's air quality rating is 87.50, making it one of the best places on Earth to use your lungs. Iceland's healthcare system is cutting-edge, universal, and largely paid for through taxes. Its life expectancy is among the highest in Europe at 83 years, and thanks to its remote location and low population, Iceland is less prone to infectious diseases than many other cities around the world. 

On a more sobering note, Reykjavik residents are pretty close to a volcano, the eruption of which could pose some serious long-term health risks as well as potentially offering imminent death.

Copenhagen

Denmark's capital has successfully reduced car use for people traveling to and from work to only 26 percent, something the city's enthusiastic bicycle use can only partially account for — an impressive 80 percent of traffic participants in Copenhagen are actually pedestrians. This partially accounts for its steadily dropping CO2 emissions. As in many other European countries, Denmark's healthcare system is mostly funded by taxpayers. Denmark, in particular, has a strong tradition of family doctors, something that gives it a high doctor-to-patient ratio. Denmark has also taken successful steps to reduce its carbon emissions, showing that its commitment to public health is strong. 

Perth

Public transport system? Check! Lots of bicycle users? Check! Bike use went up by a whopping 450 percent in this Aussie city between 1998 and 2009. Publicly-funded healthcare? Another check! In addition, Perth ranks high on healthy eating, makes mental health a priority, and residents report great satisfaction with their work-life balance. Perth also has a strong outdoor culture, with swimming in the ocean readily being available and many public parks being available for jogging, tai chi, and relaxation. 

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Calgary

This former Olympic Canadian city ranks high on Forbes' cleanest cities list, is home to lots of green spaces, and makes fitness a priority. Calgary has some of the lowest obesity rates out there, something that can be explained both by its very physically active residents and their healthy eating habits. People from Calgary don't skip their fruits and veggies! In addition, Canada's universal healthcare system is among the most impressive in the world — and though private healthcare exists, most citizens choose to make use of the very good free public healthcare system.