The Economist's Safe Cities Index 2015 ranks major world cities across a range of categories. Though 12th in overall safety, the study called San Francisco the overall fifth-best city in which to live. It's pretty nice to visit, too.
#12 San Francisco —
The Economist's Safe Cities Index 2015 ranks major world cities across a range of categories. Though 12th in overall safety, the study called San Francisco the overall fifth-best city in which to live. It's pretty nice to visit, too.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Last year's democracy protestors in Hong Kong were celebrated for their calm, friendly and safe demonstrations. Sunday shoppers can be a little more aggressive.
#11 Hong Kong —
Last year's democracy protestors in Hong Kong were celebrated for their calm, friendly and safe demonstrations. Sunday shoppers can be a little more aggressive.
MIKE CLARKE/AFP/Getty Images
These streets were made for walking. And, recently, friendly snowball fights. New York was the only U.S. city to crack the Safe City Index's top 10.
#10 New York —
These streets were made for walking. And, recently, friendly snowball fights. New York was the only U.S. city to crack the Safe City Index's top 10.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
"The average life expectancy of citizens living in the top 25 cities in the Index is 81 years, compared with 75 years for those living cities in the bottom half of the table," reads the report. "The biggest gap is between Melbourne, Australia [pictured] and Johannesburg, South Africa (86 years vs. 60 years)."
#9 Melbourne, Australia —
"The average life expectancy of citizens living in the top 25 cities in the Index is 81 years, compared with 75 years for those living cities in the bottom half of the table," reads the report. "The biggest gap is between Melbourne, Australia [pictured] and Johannesburg, South Africa (86 years vs. 60 years)."
Aurora Photos/Alamy
When it comes to the best city to live in, residents didn't appear to put quite such a premium on safety, with the Safe City Index scoring Toronto highest in livability.
#8 Toronto —
When it comes to the best city to live in, residents didn't appear to put quite such a premium on safety, with the Safe City Index scoring Toronto highest in livability.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Switzerland's largest city ranked number one in the study for "health security," based on factors such as the ratio of hospital beds to population size and life expectancy.
#7 Zurich —
Switzerland's largest city ranked number one in the study for "health security," based on factors such as the ratio of hospital beds to population size and life expectancy.
Courtesy Switzlerand Tourism
Sydneysiders are never cold. Or so claimed the Sydney Morning Herald in a story defining local traits.
#6 Sydney —
Sydneysiders are never cold. Or so claimed the Sydney Morning Herald in a story defining local traits.
Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images
Amsterdam's dependable infrastructure pushed it up the ranks of safe cities.
#5 Amsterdam —
Amsterdam's dependable infrastructure pushed it up the ranks of safe cities.
Jill Thornton/CNN iReport
Stockholm is the only non-Asian city in the top five in the personal safety category, which measures traditional aspects of a city's safety, such as crime, illegal activity and levels of police engagement.
#4 Stockholm —
Stockholm is the only non-Asian city in the top five in the personal safety category, which measures traditional aspects of a city's safety, such as crime, illegal activity and levels of police engagement.
Michel Setboun/Getty Images
Osaka's Kishiwada Danjiri Festival may also be known as the "fighting festival" (it's steeped in 300 years of tradition), but that didn't prevent the city from scoring high in nearly every category on the Safe City Index.
#3 Osaka, Japan —
Osaka's Kishiwada Danjiri Festival may also be known as the "fighting festival" (it's steeped in 300 years of tradition), but that didn't prevent the city from scoring high in nearly every category on the Safe City Index.
Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
The Safe City Index correlates high personal income with overall safety. "Singapore comes top of the group of high income cities," the report reads.
#2 Singapore —
The Safe City Index correlates high personal income with overall safety. "Singapore comes top of the group of high income cities," the report reads.
ROSLAN RAHMA/AFP/Getty
Tokyo may be top of the safety heap, but it's always improving. Yoichi Masuzoe, governor of Tokyo, has called for improved disaster prevention. "Many areas of Tokyo still contain wooden houses susceptible to outbreaks of fire," reads the Safe City Index. "The plan is to replace these structures with modern residential and commercial complexes. Achieving this goal without destroying ... the city's cultural heritage is certain to complicate preparations for the 2020 Olympics."
#1 Tokyo —
Tokyo may be top of the safety heap, but it's always improving. Yoichi Masuzoe, governor of Tokyo, has called for improved disaster prevention. "Many areas of Tokyo still contain wooden houses susceptible to outbreaks of fire," reads the Safe City Index. "The plan is to replace these structures with modern residential and commercial complexes. Achieving this goal without destroying ... the city's cultural heritage is certain to complicate preparations for the 2020 Olympics."
KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Image