In this article, we will be taking a look at the 20 most livable countries in Asia in 2024. You can also check out the 20 Countries with the Highest Annual GDP Growth in the World.
In 2024, we are well aware of the consequences of climate change and hence, one of the most concerning factors that affect livability of a city is extreme heat as it increases discomfort and potentially also increases crime and traffic accidents, particularly in high humidity areas. Speaking of discomfort, the livability of cities in East Asia today is facing challenges due to extreme urban heat. In 2023, record-high temperatures exacerbated by climate change and the urban heat island (UHI) effect posed serious risks. On average, land surface temperatures in East Asian cities were 2.0°C warmer than nearby rural areas, with cities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines experiencing up to 6.6°C higher temperatures. This disparity was particularly pronounced in poorer neighbourhoods and is more severe at night due to heat retention by urban infrastructure.
Moreover, according to the World Bank, over 100,000 deaths in East Asia are attributed to extreme heat annually. Economically, productivity losses from the UHI effect combined with global warming could reduce the GDP of major cities by 1.4-1.7% by 2050, with worst-case scenarios projecting an 11% loss by century’s end. Speaking of GDP, let’s look at the economic strength of Asia in general.
The Economic Strength of Asia in 2024
In 2024, Asia’s economic growth is being fueled by tremendous developments in trade interconnectivity and technological innovation. Ccountries like India, China, and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are essentially leading this transformation. For example, we know that India’s economy is expected to grow at 6.8% this year and its GDP is projected to surpass Japan’s by 2025 and Germany’s by 2030, reaching $7 trillion. On the other hand, China, despite a potential slowdown, is still projected to have a GDP $5 trillion higher in 2030 compared to 2022. Moreover, ASEAN’s trade is anticipated to grow by $1.2 trillion over the next decade, with exports increasing by nearly 90% by 2031, per reports from BCG.
It is also true that Asia’s rise as a global tech and innovation hub is another important driver. The continent is becoming increasingly interconnected as manufacturing and sourcing are shifting to Southeast Asia with incredibly support provided by agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). By 2030, Asia’s fintech revenues are expected to outpace those of North America. It is also worth highlighting that the region’s consumers show a strong inclination toward artificial intelligence which also suggests near-term growth opportunities in tech sectors. Let’s look at the recent developments of tech initiatives around Asia.
The Growing Focus of the Big Giants in Asia
Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) has recently announced a major initiative to equip 2.5 million people in ASEAN countries with AI skills by 2025 to support the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025. The initiative aims to build an AI-ready talent pool across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam and will involve partnerships with governments, nonprofit and corporate organizations. Over the past two years, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Skills4Jobs program has already reached 1.7 million participants in the region. The AI TEACH programs by Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) in Indonesia and Malaysia target vocational students, while Thailand’s AI Skills for the AI-enabled Tourism Industry program aims to train 100,000 young entrepreneurs. Additionally, in the Philippines, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) plans to equip 1 million K-12 students with AI and cybersecurity skills.
On the other hand, International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:IBM) has also intensified its focus on social impact, particularly in the field of education and skill development for the region. In 2022, International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:IBM) pledged to train 1 million women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region over five years as part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Upskilling Initiative. This initiative was aimed at closing the gender gap in STEM fields and has already empowered nearly 650,000 women and girls through different educational programs. International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:IBM) partnerships across the region, including collaborations with educational departments and organizations in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, are central to this effort.
Also see 25 States Where Everyday Americans Earn the Lowest Incomes and 20 Countries with Highest Income Tax Rates in Europe.
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Our Methodology
To identify the most livable countries in Asia in 2024, we utilized country ranking from the Human Development Index for the year 2022 and from the Numbeo’s affordability index by Asian countries for the year 2023. We averaged the Asian countries’ rankings for both these metrics and obtained an average rank to rank our list. The list is now presented in a descending order.
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20. Iran
HDI Rank: 78
Affordability Index Rank: 110
Average Rank: 94
One of the biggest reasons why Iran is considered highly livable in 2024 is because it is currently focusing on major housing initiatives such as the construction of nearly 1.76 million affordable units under the National Housing Movement plan, as reported by Tehran Times. This plan aims to build four million homes, with 3.2 million in cities and 800,000 in villages.
19. Sri Lanka
HDI Rank: 78
Affordability Index Rank: 108
Average Rank: 93
Sri Lanka’s economy is showing signs of recovery after a severe crisis. Inflation has plummeted from 70% in 2022 to 5.9% recently. The economy grew by 1.6% and 4.5% in the third and fourth quarters of 2023, respectively. The country, which declared bankruptcy in April 2022 with over $83 billion in debt, has received $1 billion from a $2.9 billion IMF bailout. All of these economic factors are definitely contributing to the improving livability of the country.
18. China
HDI Rank: 75
Affordability Index Rank: 93
Average Rank: 84
China is working on improving its urban livability amid extreme weather by implementing several measures. In 2022, the country designated 26 cities as “National Forest Cities” and established 3,520 “small parks” to mitigate the effects of severe weather. As of 2023, based on the GDP data (current US$) from the World Bank, China is the richest country in Asia in 2024.
17. Kazakhstan
HDI Rank: 67
Affordability Index Rank: 82
Average Rank: 74.5
Kazakhstan ranks #17 in our list of most livable countries in Asia in 2024 as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to double its investments in Kazakhstan, which currently total €10.2 billion ($11.03 billion) across 324 projects. The United Nations Development Program has also supported over 200 projects with a special focus on economic growth, green energy, and ecotourism.
16. Thailand
HDI Rank: 66
Affordability Index Rank: 75
Average Rank: 70.5
Thailand’s HDI improved to 0.803 in 2022 from 0.797 in 2021 and 0.801 pre-COVID and thus ranks at 66 out of 193 countries. It is also interesting to note that the country has a higher female HDI (0.807) compared to male (0.798).
15. Georgia
HDI Rank: 60
Affordability Index Rank: 81
Average Rank: 70.5
Georgia is often considered one of the most affordable countries in the world with a high standard of living. Moreover, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also been active in facilitating affordable housing in the country through a GEL 60 million ($22.9 million) loan to Credo Bank in 2018.
14. Turkey
HDI Rank: 45
Affordability Index Rank: 92
Average Rank: 68.5
Turkey ranks #14 in the list of most liveable countries in Asia in the 2024 list. However, despite this reputation, housing prices have increased dramatically in the country. For example, the cost of living in Istanbul rose by 80.29% annually as of January 2024, and the city’s housing expenses have similarly spiked. According to a survey by the İstanbul Planning Agency (IPA), this is attributed to Turkey’s high inflation rate, which peaked at 85% in October 2022 and remains high at 64.9% in January 2024.
13. Russian Federation
HDI Rank: 56
Affordability Index Rank: 79
Average Rank: 67.5
The cost of living is relatively low as consumer prices in Russia are 48.5% lower than in the United States, per reports from VOA. The country also has a high Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.824 which further speaks volumes about its quality education and healthcare systems.
12. Kuwait
HDI Rank: 49
Affordability Index Rank: 55
Average Rank: 52
According to a survey by Workyard Research in 2023, Kuwait city was recognized as the most affordable city in the world, with an average monthly cost of living at $752.70. This is substantially low when compared to the average monthly per capita income of $6,199.
11. South Korea
HDI Rank: 19
Affordability Index Rank: 83
Average Rank: 51
Seoul, South Korea, ranks high on the list of most liveable cities in the world in 2024. The city has an advanced metro system which is used by nearly 70% of commuters and it efficiently reduces traffic congestion. Moreover, smart city projects, like the Cheonggyecheon Stream restoration and Gangnam Resource Recovery Facility, continue to enhance their environmental sustainability.
10. Hong Kong
HDI Rank: 4
Affordability Index Rank: 98
Average Rank: 51
Hong Kong is often considered one of the most livable cities in Asia owing to its stable economy, low taxation, and strategic free-market policies. Its well-established international financial market and almost free port trade also attracts global businesses.
9. Malaysia
HDI Rank: 63
Affordability Index Rank: 36
Average Rank: 49.5
Malaysia offers an affordable lifestyle with a low cost of living which attracts expats from various regions. For example, in Kuala Lumpur, one can rent a room in a co-living space for approximately 800 MYR ($592) which is generally considered low especially in comparison to other neighboring countries.
8. Israel
HDI Rank: 25
Affordability Index Rank: 47
Average Rank: 36
Israel is undoubtedly one of the top 10 most liveable countries in Asia in 2024. Cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are highly modern with excellent job opportunities. The country has a Mediterranean climate with pleasant weather which also facilitates a high-quality outdoor life.
7. Singapore
HDI Rank: 9
Affordability Index Rank: 58
Average Rank: 33.5
Apart from the high standard of living, Singapore now ranks 26th globally and 2nd in Asia for work-life balance, as evaluated by Remote. With a high work-life balance and English as one of its official languages, it is no surprise that Singapore is one of the best places to live in Asia for English speakers.
6. Oman
HDI Rank: 59
Affordability Index Rank: 6
Average Rank: 32.5
Oman is one of the top 10 cheapest countries to live in Asia with rents as low as $2000 a month. Furthermore, Muscat, the capital city of Oman has recently been recognized as the second-cleanest city on the continent by the Numbeo Pollution Index.
5. Bahrain
HDI Rank: 34
Affordability Index Rank: 30
Average Rank: 32
While Bahrain is an affordable destination for expats in Asia, it also boasts 100% internet coverage and continues to lead globally for having excellent digital accessibility in the country.