Caracas in the top 10 least livable cities in the world in 2024.

Caracas has once again found itself positioned on an alarming list that highlights the harsh reality of life in the Venezuelan capital. The latest report from The Economist Intelligence Unit, in its Global Livability Index for 2024, reveals that Caracas ranks tenth among the ten least livable cities in the world. With an overall position of 164 out of 173, this situation underscores the profound crisis that the city and the country as a whole are experiencing, where the quality of life has severely deteriorated. The assessment of Caracas shows a total score of 44.9, with stability being the most detrimental factor, scoring a troubling 35. This aspect reflects not only the violence and crime that plague the city but also the lack of an effective government and a security framework to protect its citizens. Additionally, healthcare, with a score of 37.5, highlights the crisis in the health system, which fails to meet the basic needs of the population. Expert analysis, such as that by political analyst Luis Alberto Villamarín, identifies migration to Caracas as one of the fundamental reasons behind this low livability. More and more people are moving to the capital in search of better opportunities, but this phenomenon has led to extreme overcrowding and exacerbated the urban crisis. Villamarín warns that chavista collectives and other armed groups influence the daily lives of citizens, closing off economic and social opportunities, leading to greater despair. The report emphasizes that improving conditions in Caracas requires a profound restructuring of state administration policies. Villamarín suggests that this change must be accompanied by a different approach than the current one, avoiding the ideologization of security and seeking a more effective management of public affairs. This is not only necessary for the capital but for the entire country, which is facing an institutional crisis. Furthermore, the analyst proposes the intervention of an international body, such as the UN, to lead the necessary reconstruction of Venezuela. This intervention should include negotiations for the exit of the current regime of Nicolás Maduro and the establishment of a strategic development plan that contemplates at least two decades of work. Without this coordinated action, he warns, the country will remain mired in chaos, with increasing overcrowding and violence. The list of least livable cities is topped by Damascus, Syria, which occupies the last place with a score of 173. This fact reflects how years of armed conflict have devastated infrastructure and the economy, leaving its citizens in desperate conditions. Other places on the list, such as Tripoli and Algiers, also show the devastating effects of political instability and violence on the quality of life of their inhabitants. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the scale, Vienna has been declared the most livable city for the third consecutive year, with an impressive score of 98.4. This disparity highlights the different realities that coexist in the world and reminds us that the quality of life is a right that, in many places, is still far from being achieved. In the Latin American context, the situation in Caracas is particularly concerning, as it is not only the only city in the region in the top 10 of the least livable but also reflects a broader trend of social and economic deterioration in Venezuela. Mass migration, lack of opportunities, and the humanitarian crisis have led many Venezuelans to seek refuge in other countries, leaving behind a home that has become a symbol of suffering. Finally, it is vital for both the international community and civil society within Venezuela to become aware of this crisis. The livability of Caracas is not only an indicator of the quality of life in the city but also of the situation of a country that, despite its wealth in resources, has fallen into a seemingly endless cycle of crisis. The recovery of Caracas and Venezuela as a whole requires a coordinated, compassionate, and committed effort to restore the dignity that its citizens deserve.