Antwerp 5th on 2025 Happy City Index

The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme is “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focuses on belonging. Belonging to the society at large – the ‘outside world’ – but also belonging within the rainbow realm.

Antwerp in Belgium is fifth on the 2025 Happy City Index, after (1) Copenhagen in Denmark, (2) Zurich in Switzerland, (3) city state Singapore and (4) Aarhus in Denmark. Seoul in South Korea is 6th, Stockholm in Sweden 7th, Taipei in Taiwan 8th, Munich in Germany 9th, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands 10th.

The score is mentioned by the Antwerp Pride organising committee.

Antwerp Pride is back

“We are back”, the team says. “From August 6th onwards, our proud metropolis will once again show its most beautiful, colourful and diverse side. We celebrate being who we are — warmly, inclusively, with protest and with joy — as we have done for eighteen years now. Can you even imagine an Antwerp summer without the positive spirit of Pride?”

“Or perhaps we should say… We’re still allowed! Because while we look forward to another wonderful Pride, we cannot ignore that the past months have been shocking for the queer community. Things that seemed unimaginable only last year have abruptly become harsh, grim reality for many. If we were riding a train of progress in recent years, it now seems to be slowing down — or even coming to a halt. And not just in countries often dismissed with ‘Well, they’re more conservative anyway,’ but also in the nations surrounding us.”

“Who would have thought last year that, in a European country, it would become constitutionally forbidden to peacefully gather and defend your fundamental human rights? It happened in Hungary. Who would have thought you could go on holiday to a country where same-sex parents risk losing their hard-won adoption rights?”

“It happened in Italy. Who would have thought you’d need to be cautious when travelling to the United States? A long-awaited transgender bill in the Netherlands was shelved by parliament, effectively stifling democratic debate on the well-being of trans people. And on top of that: the ruling by the United Kingdom Supreme Court that only biological women may call themselves women, a verdict applauded by Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.”

“It sends shivers down ones spine when a government deliberately endangers the well-being and safety of part of its population out of sheer opportunism. Whether it’s our community or any other group in society at risk of discrimination. We know there is a well-organised and well-funded movement behind this downward spiral, bringing together various extremes.”

“The far right and extremist religious groups are united in undermining human rights and dismantling the rule of law. They cleverly exploit social media to turn (young) people against the values we fought so hard to defend. For years, Prides and countless organisations have warned against this. Staying vigilant and alert to what happens on the fringes of Europe has long been a core message of Antwerp Pride. The result is that we must now redouble our efforts to prevent what happens elsewhere from spreading to our metropolis.”

“But there is positive news too. The Italian Supreme Court has overturned the law mentioned above. Poland has rolled back most of its anti-queer measures and appears to be on a better path again. The Mayor of Budapest resists his president’s policies, flies rainbow flags and even attended Pride with our friends in Brussels.”

“According to the Happy City Index, we live in one of the five happiest cities in the world, in a country ranked second on the ILGA Rainbow Europe Index. Our politicians do not hesitate to call out other countries endangering the lives of queer people and work hard to further protect our rights. Let’s hope Europe takes note, because the union is not exactly brimming with ambition to follow our country’s lead.”

“The fact that we are relatively safe here does not mean we can sit back and relax. This year, Antwerp Pride has therefore chosen the theme: ‘Do Not Just March. Listen. Act. Commit’.”

“No matter how festive Antwerp Pride may be, it is more than just a celebration! Especially in these troubling times, it is up to all political parties that have joined our parade for years to show their true colours. It is up to all companies, trade unions, schools and other institutions that join in the festivities to truly embrace their commitment and continue to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, in classrooms, on and off the sports field… even after the party ends.”

“And it is up to all partygoers and visitors to stay awake after Pride. To embrace all the letters in the LGBTQIA+ community and carry them with us in our fight, without distinction. To remain vigilant whenever other human rights are at stake, here and across the globe. After all, human rights are not a grab bag you can pick and choose from. If we want to prevent our society from crumbling further, it is up to everyone to listen, act and commit.”

Happy City Index

The Happy City Index is an annual evaluation produced by the Institute for Quality of Life (in London), designed to assess the urban policies and outcomes of hundreds of cities worldwide in relation to residents’ wellbeing.

It is founded on the principle that there is no single ideal place to live that guarantees happiness for all. However, some cities demonstrate exceptional foresight in policy-making, continuously assessing and refining their actions, with results clearly reflected in the data.

These cities merit close attention, not because they are declared the best, but because their indicators allow meaningful comparison with others around the globe, and the impact of their social and urban strategies is measurable and visible.

Each year, researchers begin by screening over 1,200 cities using publicly available sources. Only those with sufficient reliable, transparent, and comparable data—covering at least 80 per cent of the required indicators—are included in the final assessment pool, typically narrowing the list to approximately 500 cities.

The evaluation framework is structured around six core themes:

Citizens,
Governance,
Environment,
Economy,
Mobility,
And, as of the 2025 edition, Health.

These are further divided into 26 areas and measured through 82 individual indicators, many of which have been refined across previous editions.

Each area is assigned a specific weighting to reflect its relevance to resident wellbeing. Cities receive positive scores where good practices are evident, while, for the first time in 2025, some indicators—particularly under Health—can result in negative scores to reflect issues such as poor mental health or high mortality.

Gold cities

The cumulative performance of each city determines its categorisation within the Index. Cities that perform strongly may be recognised as Gold Cities, while others may be placed in the Silver or Bronze groups, depending on their ranking and data coverage.

In cities ranked within the top 100, a more detailed qualitative evaluation may follow. This includes resident interviews, surveys, and visits—conducted either on-site or online—against the full set of urban activity areas.

Only those that demonstrate strong policy implementation and visible real-life impact on residents’ quality of life are ultimately awarded Gold status. Silver and Bronze rankings are determined purely by the measured indicators.

Data collection

To support this process, the Institute has developed a dedicated data collection system and a set of weightings designed to reflect the actual needs of urban populations as objectively as possible. The analysis relies on tens of thousands of data points and spans a seven-month period involving over 200 researchers across various time zones.

While the outcomes are based on numerical scoring, the results provide a comprehensive and objective snapshot of urban happiness as reflected in the lived experience of city dwellers.

Happy City Index about Antwerp

Antwerp, the vibrant port city on Belgium’s River Scheldt, emerges as a beacon of urban wellbeing in the 2025 Happy City Index, securing fifth place globally with a remarkable 956 points. Recognised with Gold status, it stands alongside cities such as Copenhagen, Zurich, Singapore and Aarhus for its holistic approach to citizens’ quality of life.

Home to some 545,878 residents across 204 km², Antwerp represents 4.6% of Belgium’s population. The city’s GDP per person reached €58,427 and grew at 6%, while 21.1 per cent of employed individuals work in public administration, reflecting robust and well-organised urban management.

Education and innovation flourish in Antwerp. The local university ranks among the global top 300, supporting a culture of research and lifelong learning.

Approximately 7% of the population engages in formal adult education, nearly a quarter hold a master’s degree and 84% possess digital proficiency. Over half of residents speak at least one foreign language, further enhancing the city’s international standing. Patent generation is modest, with around 0.95 patents per 10,000 residents.

Governance in Antwerp is characterised by transparency and civic participation. Voter turnout exceeded 89% in recent supranational elections and the city publishes 837 open data sets, while offering digital public services such as fault reporting, e‑payments and appointment scheduling. Municipal strategies are current and thematic planning covers seven domains of city life.

The city places a high emphasis on health and wellbeing. Virtually all citizens (99 %) have medical insurance, and there are six doctors per 1,000 residents. Life expectancy is 81.2 years on average, the obesity rate stands at 16 per cent, and coordinated mental health support reaches just over 10% of adults. While suicide attempt rates remain low (0.14 per 1,000 residents), recorded incidents of violence in public places amount to 12 per 1,000, signalling areas for ongoing improvement.

Antwerp’s mobility policies are notably progressive. More than half of trips within the city qualify as green mobility. The transport network is equipped with a sophisticated intelligent traffic system, and 92.5% of public vehicles are fully accessible. Payment systems are versatile, including mobile applications, contactless cards and journey planners, all supported by real-time open data.

Environmental sustainability plays a central role in Antwerp’s strategy. Electricity consumption is efficient relative to GDP and the city maintains an average PM10 level of 19.4. Sewage treatment covers 95 per cent of residents.

There are dedicated biodiversity protection strategies and legal measures to encourage renewable energy and monitor CO₂ emissions. Although parks are limited in number—just 0.07 per square kilometre—these are supplemented by proactive green policy initiatives.

Economically, Antwerp hosts approximately 97 businesses per 1,000 residents, with 4.5 new enterprises emerging annually per 1,000 residents. The unemployment rate is moderate at 6 per cent and earnings deviate by only 2% from the national average. These figures underscore not only a diverse and resilient economy but also wide opportunity and stability for the working population.

The city also captivates with its cultural richness and urban character. As Europe’s second largest port, it manages a thriving economic hub bolstered further by its historic Diamond District and a strong fashion and design heritage. Public satisfaction ratings are exceptionally high—over 90% express happiness with life, and substantial majorities report high satisfaction with healthcare, sport facilities, cultural offerings and education. Efficient municipal services also receive top-five recognition in European Union city surveys.

Residents and visitors alike often cite Antwerp’s walkable scale, its thriving café culture, world-class museums and cultural events, and a city layout that fosters spontaneous social interaction. Its compact nature supports a relaxed pace of life with strong everyday connections, while smart mobility projects and public space redesigns continue to enhance liveability.

Taken together, Antwerp’s comprehensive performance across health, governance, mobility, environment, education and economy, together with its lived cultural vibrancy and resident contentment, offer a compelling portrait of a city where quality of life is thoughtfully cultivated and clearly visible in both data and daily life.

Really?

As Antwerp residents, we can frown at these findings and conclusions. such indexes are there to create buzz, of course. And I don’t know any Antwerpian happy with the city’s mobility and traffic situation.

But perhaps we should be more happy with what we have and complain a bit less about what we don’t have, or what doesn’t work.

In any any case, Antwerp residents now now they live in the fifth happiest city.

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Antwerp 5th on 2025 Happy City Index

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24 Comments Add yours

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Antwerp Pride is back

Happy City Index

Gold cities

Data collection

Happy City Index about Antwerp

Really?

On tourism

Antwerp Pride 2025

Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2025

Darklands 2025-2026

The latest on LGBTQIA+ events such as prides in Belgium

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24 Comments Add yours

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