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London has missed out on a place in the world's 50 most liveable cities.

The capital came 53rd in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2016 Global Liveability Report, which ranks cities according to living standards.

Melbourne in Australia maintained its position at the top but the overall picture showed a decline in living conditions due to terrorism, police shootings and geopolitical tensions.

Austrian capital Vienna came second followed by three Canadian cities; Vancouver, Toronto and then Calgary.

At the other end of the scale, war-stricken Damascus in Syria came last out of 140 cities because of poor healthcare, education, infrastructure and stability. Tripoli, in Libya and Lagos, in Nigeria, complete the bottom three.

London is not even the most liveable city in the UK, with Manchester ranking ten places higher.

The report’s editor, John Copestake, told the Independent: “London is actually a very liveable city. Its score puts it in the very top tier of liveability and even though it ranks lower than Manchester the differences are small.

“London's vibrancy and diversity make it a great destination but these are also factors that can weigh on liveability.

“Cities that have a big city buzz and attract lots of people tend to also have greater congestion as well as higher crime rates. In London's case, as we have seen in the past, it also makes the city a target for terrorism. In many ways factors that weigh on London' liveability score reflect that it is a victim of its own success.”

The report reveals that the highest ranked cities tend to be “mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density”. This offers most of the benefits of a major city without leading to higher crime levels or overburdened infrastructure.

Six of the top 10 cities are in Australia and Canada.

The top ten

1. Melbourne, Australia

Australia’s capital of culture rates highly in education, entertainment, health care, research and sport – making it no wonder the coastal jewel repeatedly tops the rankings. Melbourne is located in a large natural bay in Victoria state flanked by soaring mountains.

2. Vienna, Austria

With grand architecture, historic courtyards and a buzzing cultural scene, Austria’s capital is the most liveable city in Europe. It’s also the birthplace of Mozart, Beethoven and the world’s first psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud.

3. Vancouver, Canada

The port city on the west coast of Canada is revered for its natural beauty, with snow-dusted mountains peeking through glass office towers. Skiing in the morning and hitting the beach in the afternoon is a normal day off for Vancouverites.

4. Toronto, Canada

The most populous city in Canada is an international centre of business, arts and culture. It is also one of the most multicultural places on the planet, with over 140 languages spoken among its any varied neighbourhoods.

5. Calgary, Canada

Despite suffering serious flood damage in June 2013, Calgary has stood strong and remains both a centre of business and a party capital. It is located at the confluence of two rivers in Alberta province.

6. Adelaide, Australia

Located between the coast and the foothills, Adelaide is a sophisticated, multicultural city. It is the site of many governmental and financial institutions.

7. Perth, Australia

The capital and largest city in Western Australia, Perth combines its big city status with beautiful beaches, wonderful weather and a laid-back atmosphere. Residents enjoy unbeatable natural scenery and reliable infrastructure.

8. Auckland, New Zealand

The largest city in New Zealand but not the capital, Auckland is also one of the most beautiful in the world. With glistening beaches, dense rainforest, volcanic peaks and wildlife reserves all close by, nature really does rub shoulders with the city’s high-rise centre.

9. Helsinki, Finland

The capital of Finland is regularly labelled as one of the unsung stars of Europe, if not the world. The harbour city is a hub for cutting edge design, but it’s the old museums and architecture which really add to its charm.

10. Hamburg, Germany

Most famous as the home of the hamburger, Germany’s second-largest city also packs in huge slices of business and finance, along with a generous dollop of culture. Today its distinctive electronic music scene thrives in harbourside venues.

The bottom five

136. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

The capital of Papa New Guinea mixes a glitzy marina and modern office blocks with shanty towns that lack running water and electricity. High levels of rape, robbery and murder have kept Port Moresby at the wrong end of the rankings for some years.

137. Dhaka, Bangladesh

The enormous capital of Bangladesh is home to 17 million people, making it a riotous, seemingly chaotic place. Transport links and infrastructure in general are improving though, and much of Dhaka life occurs on boats on the Buriganga River.

138. Lagos, Nigeria

The largest city on the African continent, Lagos is one of the most populous urban areas in the world and a hive of activity. It is a major financial centre in Africa, with the highest GDP, but poverty and conflict are major factors in Lagos life.

139. Tripoli, Libya

The capital of Libya, Tripoli boasts a port, a large commercial district and a university. However, the on-going Libyan civil war has made Tripoli an unstable, unsafe place.

140. Damascus, Syria

The Syrian capital has been ravaged by war, with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing. Terror group ISIS has laid siege to the once thriving city, bombing everything from schools to hospitals to swimming pools.