Sydney is a truly global city that boasts an enviable quality of life. Sydney was ranked equal ninth out of 215 cities by the 2007 Mercer Worldwide Quality of Living Survey. Cities in this survey are graded against 39 key quality of living criteria ranging from political to social and environmental factors. Sydney ranks above almost all other Asia Pacific cities and ahead of all the other Australian capital cities.
Australia was ranked first in the Asia Pacific and fifth in the world for quality of life by the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007. Sydney was also named in fDi Magazine's Top 20 Expat Cities list in 2006, and is described as "one of the world's most attractive and vibrant cities".
Sydney and regional New South Wales are great locations for businesses and expatriate staff, offering political stability, access to key amenities, as well as high levels of safety and health care.