After two years, Vienna has overtaken Auckland as the world's most livable city, according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). .

Vienna ranked first in 2018 and 2019, but was overtaken by Auckland, New Zealand, during the pandemic and slipped to 12th place in 2021, according to the Global Liveability Index 2022. .

The EIU said that Auckland's position on the index dipped to the 34th spot this year because of higher Covid-19 infection rates and strict border controls in 2021.

Although lockdowns ended in New Zealand in December, well-vaccinated cities in Europe and Canada had begun easing restrictions earlier.

"Other cities falling was why Auckland was top last time.

Australian and New Zealand cities snagged six of the top 10 spots last year, but were "much, much lower down" on this year's list as their partial reopening coincided with the spread of the more contagious omicron variant, Baptist told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Thursday.

"We can expect to see Australian and New Zealand cities moving up the rankings next year, when we do the next round of the survey.

"Both cities record a fall in scores owing to increased instability, censorship, imposition of Western sanctions and corporates withdrawing their operations from the country," the report said. .

The war on Ukraine also affected the rankings of other Eastern European cities that have been facing political standoffs security threats, food and energy insecurities, and rising inflation, EIU said. .

Ukraine's capital Kyiv was also excluded from this year's report, and 33 new cities — 11 of them in China — were added. .

These are the world's most livable cities and their scores, according to The Global Liveability Index 2022:.