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Cities of love 2022
Which are the most loving cities around the world?
If there’s one thing we’ve all learned over the past eighteen months it's that it is important to spend time with the ones we love, and the best way to do that is to explore the world together, which is easier than ever now Brits don’t have to take a COVID test after arriving back in the UK.
But which city can be crowned the most loving?
We’ve analysed some of the world’s most visited cities on a range of factors such as the top city for proposals, the number of babies born, the happiest LGBTQ+ residents and the number of people getting down on one knee and proposing to their partner with an engagement ring.
The most loving cities around the world
These are the most loving cities from across the 100 most popular tourist destinations we looked at. Taking into account Instagram posts, Google searches, World Bank data and The William’s Institute’s Gay Acceptance Index we created a combined score to reveal which cities are the best for loved-up couples to visit.
1. Sydney City love score: 8.2 out of 10
Taking the top spot in our rankings as the world’s most loving city is Australia’s emerald city, Sydney. The city scored highly across the board ranking in the top three locations for making the most babies, as well as engagement ring searches per 100,000, making them one of the most popular cities for popping the question.
2. Melbourne City love score: 7.4 out of 10
In second place is Sydney’s sister city Melbourne. The Aussie metropolis is nicknamed the garden city for its parks, making it perfect for a romantic stroll. The city scores in the top ten for LGBTQ+ happiness and the most proposals too. Like its south-coast counterpart Sydney, it scores highly for engagement ring searches per 100,000.
3. Vancouver City love score: 7.3 out of 10
Next up is Vancouver, on the Western shore of British Columbia, Canada. The city is one of the most gay-friendly on our list, taking second place for LGBTQ+ happiness. Vancouver also scores highly for locals getting down on one knee, landing in the top three for Instagram posts documenting the happy occasion and the top five for engagement ring searches.
The best city for…
1. Paris - 47,763 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts
Romance is in the air in Paris, topping our list as the most popular city to propose, with over 47,000 Instagram posts dedicated to memorialising the momentous occasion, beating second place by over 1000 posts! This is no surprise for a city so famous for its romantic atmosphere, it is affectionately referred to as the City of Love.
2. Toronto - 46,228 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts
In second place is Canada’s biggest city Toronto, with a grand total of 46,228 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts. In 2019 Toronto was ranked the best city in Canada to find love, so it's no surprise its citizens are among the most eager to pop the question.
3. Vancouver - 23,219 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts
The second Canadian city in our ranking, Vancouver takes third place as a proposal destination. The city is filled to the brim with picturesque locations, with each making the perfect backdrop for popping the question, taking it to third place in our ranking with 23,219 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts.
1. Cape Town - 20 births per 1,000 people in 2019
The residents of Cape Town certainly aren’t afraid of getting intimate, with the highest birth rate of all the cities on our list of 20 per 1000 people. Hopefully, we don't have to explain to you what birth rates have to do with how loving a city is!
2. Istanbul - 16 births per 1,000 people in 2019
Taking second place is Istanbul. The Turkish capital has a birth rate of 16 births per 1,000 people, thanks to its relatively large population of young people getting down to it. Despite falling in recent years, the birthrate in Istanbul still outpaces that of other European cities.
3. Sydney - 12 births per 1,000 people in 2019
Sydney ranks third for this factor with 12 births per 1,000 people as of 2019, which equates to 1.58 births per woman. Similarly to Istanbul, the birth rate has dropped in recent years, so much so that the population has begun to shrink.
1. Amsterdam - gay acceptance index score 9.46 out of 10
The Dutch capital has a proud history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights, decriminalising homosexuality as far back as 1811! So it's to be expected that it takes the top spot for this factor, very nearly scoring full marks with 9.46 out of 10.
2. Vancouver - gay acceptance index score 9.02 out of ten
Vancouver is Canada’s hottest destination for LGBTQ+ people and boasts the largest gay population on Canada’s West Coast. Taking second place, the city has a gay acceptance index score of 9.02 out of ten thanks to its inclusive atmosphere.
3. Toronto - gay acceptance index score 9.02 out of ten
Sharing second place with Vancouver is a second Canadian city, Toronto. The city scores 9.02 out of ten in the gay acceptance index. Home to Canada’s largest LGBTQ+ population, the city has a vibrant gay dating scene and its pride celebrations are some of the largest in the world too.
1. Birmingham City love score: 8.5
Birmingham can be crowned the most loving UK destination, with England’s second city scoring 8.5 in our index. Birmingham has the highest score thanks to it taking the top spot for the most babies born, at 13.1 births per 1000 people. It also scores in the top five for the number of proposal hashtags per 100,000 people.
2. Sheffield City love score: 7.7
Taking second place, this city in Yorkshire scores 7.7 in our index. This industrial city scores in the top ten for proposal hotspots, although its relatively low birthrate and engagement ring searches keep it from taking the top spot.
3. London City love score: 7.5
The UK capital ranks third on our list, ranking highly thanks to it taking third place for proposal hashtags, with 160 per 100,000 people. However, the city ranks last for “engagement ring” searches per 100,00 people as a result of its large population, keeping it from climbing higher in our index.
The best UK cities for…
1. Edinburgh - 242 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts per 100,000 people
Scotland’s capital takes the top spot as the most romantic engagement hotspot with 242 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts per 100,000 people. With its world-class restaurants, picturesque landscapes, and charming architecture, you’re definitely not short of romantic locations perfect for popping the question.
2. Brighton and Hove - 208 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts per 100,000 people
One of Britain's most popular seaside resorts is also one of its engagement hotspots, with 208 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts per 100,000 people. Thanks to its sun, sea fresh air and dramatic landscapes, Brighton is the perfect place for a destination proposal, especially for those visiting from the capital, London.
3. London - 160 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts per 100,000 people
In third is the British capital, steeped in history and culture London is an engagement hotspot thanks to its gorgeous parks, vibrant nightlife and exceptional restaurants. The city has 160 ‘proposal’ and ‘engagement’ Instagram posts per 100,000 people.
1. Birmingham - 13.1 births per 1,000 people in 2020
Taking the top spot for the most babies born per 100,000 people is Birmingham at a whopping 13.1. This comes as no surprise as the city has experienced a baby boom over the last few years, and the West Midlands have one of the highest fertility rates in the country too.
2. Leicester - 12.6 births per 1,000 people in 2020
The second West Midlands city on the list, Leicester also benefits from having a high fertility rate, leading to the city having a birthrate of 12.6 births per 1,000 people. The city also has a relatively young population compared to the British average, which could explain its high birthrate.
3. Bradford - 12.5 births per 1,000 people in 2020
The West Yorkshire city takes third place for this factor, with 12.5 births per 1,000 people. The city is also blessed with a fertility rate higher than the national average. The birth rate in Bradford has fallen in recent years, from its peak of 8,600 live births in 2010.
The UK cities most likely to pop the question
1. Glasgow - 9282 ‘engagement ring’ searches per 100,000 people in 2021
Glasgow is the most eager city to pop the question to their loved ones with 9282 ‘engagement ring’ searches per 100,000 people in 2021, making them the most likely Scottish city for partners preparing to get down on one knee. Glaswegians take the top spot by a very slim margin of 91 searches per 100,000 people.
2. Liverpool - 9191 ‘engagement ring’ searches per 100,000 people in 2021
Next up, Liverpool has 9191 ‘engagement ring’ searches per 100,000 people in 2021. This takes the city to second place in our UK ranking and makes it the most likely city in the Northwest to pop the question, ahead of Manchester by over 1,200 searches.
3. Bristol - 8372 ‘engagement ring’ searches per 100,000 people in 2021
The largest city in Southwest England, Bristol is next on our list. The figures show the city has 8372 ‘engagement ring’ searches per 100,000 people in 2021, taking it to third place for residents looking to pop the question.
1. Chester - 533 marriages and civil partnerships per 100,000 people in 2018
It’s the ultimate expression of love and commitment, a dedication to spending the rest of your lives together with two simple words, and of the cities we looked at Chester takes the top spot. The city had 533 marriages and civil partnerships per 100,000 people for the most recent year the data was available.
2. Swansea - 490 marriages and civil partnerships per 100,000 people in 2018
The Welsh city of Swansea takes second place with 490 marriages and civil partnerships per 100,000 people in 2018. It has just over 90 more marriages and civil partnerships per 100,000 people than the Welsh capital Cardiff, making it the highest-ranking Welsh city for couples getting hitched.
3. Brighton - 460 marriages and civil partnerships per 100,000 people in 2018
This city on the South coast takes third place, with just 30 marriages and civil partnerships per 100,000 people behind Swansea. Brighton had 460 couples tying the knot per 100,000 people in 2018, with couples flocking there for a romantic destination wedding by the sea.
Methodology
Global
We analysed the 100 most visited city destinations in 2021 on the following four factors, giving a normalised score out of ten for each factor, before taking an average score across all four.
Populations
The population of each city according to World Population Review.
Instagram posts tagged #[city]engagement and #[city]proposal
The number of posts with the hashtag #[city]engagement and #[city]proposal according to Instagram as of the 24th February.
Births
The number of live births in 2019 according to The World Bank per 1000 of the population.
‘Engagement ring’ searches
The number of searches for the above term per 100,000 people according to Google Ads’ Keyword Planner.
LGBTQ+ happiness
The gay acceptance index score for each country according to the Williams Institute.
UK
Populations
The population of each city in 2020 according to Office for National Statistics population estimates.
Births
The number of live births per 1000 people in the UK in 2020 according to the Office for National Statistics birth characteristics dataset.
Marriages
The number of marriages and civil partnerships in 2018, per 100,000 people according to Office for National Statistics for England and Wales.
Data for Scotland sourced from National Records for Scotland marriages and civil partnership time series data.
Instagram posts tagged #[city]engagement and #[city]proposal
The number of posts with the hashtag #[city]engagement and #[city]proposal according to Instagram as of the 24th February.
‘Engagement ring’ searches
The number of searches for the above term per 100,000 people according to Google Ads’ Keyword Planner.