The World's Best Places To Live 2010

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit | Photo: Kane Skennar | Digital Vision | Getty Images If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Although the answer likely varies from person to person, there are several universal factors that make any spot a great place to live. To get a sense of the best places to call home, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) assembles annual rankings of 140 major cities worldwide based on which have the most ideal living conditions. The rankings are based on over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five categories: stability, health care, culture/environment, education and infrastructure. The EIU tasks analysts and in-city contributors to assess qualitative indicators, while using a relative gauge for quantitative factors. The EIU found that for most cities, livability has been unaffected by the recession, as most factors - such as infrastructure and crime levels - have not shifted. Each city is given an overall livability rating that is weighted between 1-100, with 100 being ideal living conditions and 1 considered intolerable. Each individual category factors into the overall ranking on weighted basis. So where are the world's best cities to live? Click ahead to find out!By Paul ToscanoPosted 4 May 2010

Photo: Image Source | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 95.7 Stability: 95 Health Care: 95.8 Education: 100 Infrastructure: 92.9 Culture & Environment: 97

Photo: Andrew Watson | Axiom Photographic Agency | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 95.9 Stability: 95 Health Care: 100 Education: 100 Infrastructure: 92.9 Culture & Environment: 94.2

Photo: Bob Stefko | Photodisc | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 95.9 Stability: 95 Health Care: 100 Education: 88.7 Infrastructure: 100 Culture & Environment: 100

Photo: Image Source | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 96.1 Stability: 90 Health Care: 100 Education: 100 Infrastructure: 100 Culture & Environment: 94.4

Photo: Chad Ehiers | Stone | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 96.2 Stability: 100 Health Care: 100 Education: 91.7 Infrastructure: 96.4 Culture & Environment: 91

Photo: Uyen Le | Photodisc | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 96.6 Stability: 100 Health Care: 100 Education: 100 Infrastructure: 96.4 Culture & Environment: 89.1

Photo: Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 97.2 Stability: 100 Health Care: 100 Education: 100 Infrastructure: 89.3 Culture & Environment: 97.2

Photo: Scott E Barbour | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 97.5 Stability: 95 Health Care: 100 Education: 100 Infrastructure: 100 Culture & Environment: 95.1

Photo: Karl Thomas | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 97.9 Stability: 95 Health Care: 100 Education: 96.5 Infrastructure: 100 Culture & Environment: 100

Photo: Micha Pawlitzki | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images Overall Livability Rating: 98.0 Stability: 95 Health Care: 100 Education: 100 Infrastructure: 96.4 Culture & Environment: 100

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