Lausanne in Switzerland has been ranked the best small city in the world.

It topped the chart in Monocle’s inaugural Small Cities Index, which ranked the best 25 small cities in the world with a population under 200,000.

The ranking was compiled by Monocle’s correspondents, editors and researchers who looked at factors such as the quality of public transport, rail and air connections, lively metabolism and progressive local government, among other things.

The Swiss city took the top spot for a host of reasons including its global outlook, diverse population, home to big business and natural setting, said Monocle.

The publisher added that Lausanne’s efficient public transport network as well as key employers in the city, including the International Olympic Committee, were key to its win.

Best small cities in the world Show all 25 1 /25 Best small cities in the world Best small cities in the world Trieste, Italy Trieste, Italy Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Lausanne, Switzerland Lausanne, Switzerland Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Boulder, USA Boulder, USA Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Bergen, Norway Bergen, Norway Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Hobart, Australia Hobart, Australia Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Chigasaki, Japan Chigasaki, Japan Wikimedia Commons/運転太郎 Best small cities in the world Bolzano, Italy Bolzano, Italy Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Bordeaux, France Bordeaux, France Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Innsbruck, Austria Innsbruck, Austria Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Porto, Portugal Porto, Portugal Getty/iStock Best small cities in the world Aachen, Germany Aachen, Germany Getty/iStock Best small cities in the world Reykjavik, Iceland Reykjavik, Iceland Getty/iStock Best small cities in the world Savannah, USA Savannah, USA Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Postdam, Germany Postdam, Germany Getty Images Best small cities in the world Basel, Switzerland Basel, Switzerland Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Chiang Mai, Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Victoria, Canada Victoria, Canada Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world San Sebastian, Spain San Sebastian, Spain Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Eindhoven, Netherlands Eindhoven, Netherlands Getty Images Best small cities in the world Bath, UK Bath, UK Getty Images Best small cities in the world Aalborg, Denmark Aalborg, Denmark Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Wiesbaden, Germany Wiesbaden, Germany Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Haarlem, Netherlands Haarlem, Netherlands Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Annapolis, USA Annapolis, USA Getty Images/iStockphoto Best small cities in the world Salzburg, Austria Salzburg, Austria Getty Images/iStockphoto

Rounding out the top five was Boulder, USA; Bergen, Norway; Hobart, Australia; and Chigasaki, Japan.

“We kept noticing that our readers were moving to the likes of Porto and Boulder and creating busy, better lives for themselves. This survey shows why people are voting with their feet and ambitions,” said Monocle editor, Andrew Tuck.

Monocle Editor-in-Chief, Tyler Brûlé added: “Having established a strong franchise with the annual Monocle quality-of-life ranking, we felt that it was time to measure liveability in smaller-scale cities that were hard to put in the same league as cities like Tokyo or Vancouver.”

The top 25 small cities in the world

1. Lausanne, Switzerland

2. Boulder, USA

3. Bergen, Norway

4. Hobart, Australia

5. Chigasaki, Japan

6. Bolzano, Italy

7. Bordeaux, France

8. Innsbruck, Austria

9. Porto, Portugal

10. Aachen, Germany

11. Reykjavik, Iceland

12. Savannah, USA

13. Potsdam, Germany

14. Basel, Switzerland

15. Chiang Mai, Thailand

16. Victoria, Canada

17. San Sebastián, Spain

18. Eindhoven, Netherlands

19. Bath, UK

20. Aalborg, Denmark

21. Wiesbaden, Germany

22. Trieste, Italy

23. Haarlem, Netherlands

24. Annapolis, USA