from this site:
“These Are the World’s 10 Best Cities for Living to 100, Study Finds—and No. 1 Ranks for Quality of Life
Researchers analyzed quality-of-life, environmental, and health metrics to rank global longevity hotspots. By Kristine Hansen, Published on April 28, 2026
There’s a lot of talk these days about longevity with spas and wellness retreats rising in popularity. But some destinations are more deeply tied to the principles of living a long and healthy life than others.
The Norwegian city of Bergen rose to the top as the place where people have the best chance of living to 100, according to a new study by World Depopulation, a global demographics analytics tool. The community, which hugs Norway’s southwestern coast, received the study’s highest longevity score thanks to its top environmental conditions and quality of life (ranked 4th worldwide). The national life expectancy in Bergen was 83.76 years, according to the study, with low national smoking rates.
The Australian city of Canberra ranked No. 2 globally in quality of life, with a national life expectancy of 84.34 years.
That was followed by Nantes, France, in third place, with fellow French city Grenoble in the fourth overall spot (and No. 1 for global quality of life). France had a national life expectancy of 83.7 years, according to the study.
In the United States, the highest-ranked city was San Jose, California, at No. 36 overall. Part of the San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose ranked relatively high in environmental factors at 53. Still, he was hampered by high nationwide obesity rates of 42.74 percent and a nationwide life expectancy of 79.76 years.
“One thing that didn’t surprise us at all was how poorly American cities performed,” a longevity researcher from World Depopulation said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “The problem is the broader national context. Americans have a 42 percent obesity rate and a much shorter life expectancy than Europeans or Australians. Even if you live in the healthiest American city, you’re still part of a food culture and healthcare system that makes going past 80 and 90 much harder than it would be in Europe.”
To compile its list, World Depopulation examined 100 cities worldwide, using a predetermined list from Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index. The study examined each city’s rankings in quality of life and environmental conditions, life expectancy, smoking rates, obesity levels, food quality and safety standards, and physical inactivity among adults over the age of 70.
This is the full list of the top 10 cities ranked for longevity, according to World Population.
- Bergen, Norway
- Canberra, Australia
- Nantes, France
- Grenoble, France
- Bern, Switzerland
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Lausanne, Switzerland
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Basel, Switzerland
- Quebec City, Canada”
As we continue wandering from one corner of the world to another, we often find ourselves asking, where will we land when the journey slows? It is a curious thought, one without urgency, yet it lingers in the background of our days. We have no clear answer, no place calling us home just yet. Perhaps it will be somewhere with fresh air, gentle weather, and a sense of peace that settles deep within us. Until then, we move forward, grateful for each new horizon, trusting that when the time comes, the right place will somehow find us.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, May 3, 2016:
