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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Vienna State Opera, Vienna.

Cities are where human beings find satisfaction of basic needs and essential public goods.

Cities are also where ambitions, aspirations and other immaterial aspects of life are realised, providing contentment and happiness and increasing the prospects of individual and collective well-being, says a UN Habitat study which lists the world's most prosperous cities.

Vienna tops the world's prosperity index.

Take a look at the world's top 20 prosperous cities...

1. Vienna (Austria)

While the share of urban populations worldwide increased from 33 to 51 per cent between 1960 and 2010, per capita income increased by 152 per cent – from $2,382 to $6,006 – over the same period, UN Habitat study said.

Prosperity Index: 0.925
Productivity Index: 0.939
Quality of Life Index: 0.882

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Quixote, 6, and Ashley (L), 4, of the Chow Chow breed, are displayed at their stand during the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Meet the Breeds event in New York.

2. New York (United States)

Prosperity Index: 0.825
Productivity Index: 0.940
Quality of Life Index: 0.866

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Brookfield Place, Toronto.

3. Toronto (Canada)

Prosperity Index: 0.890
Productivity Index: 0.874
Quality of Life Index: 0.907

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
City Hall, London.

4. London (United Kingdom)

Prosperity Index: 0.904
Productivity Index: 0.923
Quality of Life Index: 0.898

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Royal Palace, Stockholm.

5. Stockholm (Sweden)

Prosperity Index: 0.898
Productivity Index: 0.896
Quality of Life Index: 0.925

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Aleksi Helsinki Market Street.

6. Helsinki (Finland)

Prosperity Index: 0.924
Productivity Index: 0.890
Quality of Life Index: 0.905

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Henrietta Street Dublin.

7. Dublin (Ireland)

Prosperity Index: 0.913
Productivity Index: 0.901
Quality of Life Index: 0.867

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Norwegian Parliament.

8. Oslo (Norway)

Prosperity Index:0.924
Productivity Index: 0.870
Quality of Life Index: 0.914

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Norwegian Parliament.

9. Paris (France)

Prosperity Index: 0.897
Productivity Index: 0.895
Quality of Life Index: 0.925

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office.

10. Tokyo (Japan)

Prosperity Index: 0.905
Productivity Index: 0.850
Quality of Life Index: 0.931

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Melbourne Collins Street.

11. Melbourne (Australia)

Prosperity Index: 0.903
Productivity Index: 0.867
Quality of Life Index: 0.875

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Auckland.

12. Auckland (New Zealand) 

Prosperity Index: 0.862
Productivity Index: 0.854 
Quality of Life Index: 0.889

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Dam Square National Monument.

13. Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

Prosperity Index: 0.895
Productivity Index: 0.866
Quality of Life Index: 0.872

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Zuerich Sunrise Tower.

14. Zurich (Switzerland)

Prosperity Index: 0.884
Productivity Index: 0.868
Quality of Life Index: 0.858

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Opernhaus in Copenhagen.

15. Copenhagen (Denmark)

Prosperity Index: 0.913
Productivity Index: 0.855
Quality of Life Index: 0.871

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST

16. Brussels

Prosperity Index: 0.883
Productivity Index: 0.862
Quality of Life Index: 0.864

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Barcelona.

17. Barcelona (Spain)

Prosperity Index: 0.876
Productivity Index: 0.829
Quality of Life Index: 0.912

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan.

18. Milan (Italy)

Prosperity Index: 0.870
Productivity Index: 0.868
Quality of Life Index: 0.895

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Lazienki Palace, Warsaw.

19. Warsaw (Poland)

Prosperity Index:0.883
Productivity Index: 0.846
Quality of Life Index: 0.864

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World's top 20 prosperous cities

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 19:29 IST
Lisbon.

Lisbon (Portugal)

Prosperity Index: 0.853
Productivity Index: 0.827
Quality of Life Index: 0.867