Melbourne has retained its status as the world’s most liveable city for a fourth consecutive year, outscoring three other Australian cities in the top 10.

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index found Melbourne to be ahead of 139 other cities, with the city scoring well across a range of criteria, including health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

It also scored a perfect 100 points in the sub-category of sport.

At the other end of the Economist’s scale, Damascus in war-torn Syria was the least liveable city behind Dhaka in Bangladesh and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

The survey found that over the past six months, only nine cities of 140 surveyed had experienced changes in scores and only 20 cities had seen changes over the past year.

Over half of the changes taking place over the past 12 months have been driven by deteriorating scores, with instability re-emerging as a key factor in influencing global scores,” the report said. Premier Denis Napthine said it was great news for all of Victoria.

“Our low crime rates, great health system, harmonious multicultural community, excellent education system and road and rail network all played a part in our great city taking out this coveted award again,” he said

TOP 10

Melbourne

Vienna (Austria)

Vancouver (Canada)

Toronto (Canada)

Adelaide

Calgary (Canada)

Sydney

Helsinki (Finland)

Perth

Auckland (New Zealand)

BOTTOM 10

Abidjan (Cote d’Ivorie)

Tripoli (Libya)

Douala (Cameroon)

Harare (Zimbabwe)

Algiers (Algeria)

Karachi (Pakistan)

Lagos (Nigeria)

Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea)

Dhaka (Bangladesh)

Damascus (Syria)