While the majority of the region's cities retain a similar ranking to last year, Singapore (26) is the region's highest riser, up six places since 2008. The city has gained importance as a financial centre and offers a wide range of international and private schools to cater to its expatriate community. Beijing has also moved three places in the ranking, up from 116 to 113, mainly due to improvements in public transport facilities from the Olympic Games last August.
 
Dropping down in the rankings, mainly due to a decline in stability and security are Bangkok (from 109 in 2008 to 120) and Mumbai (from 142 to 148). Thailand's political turmoil continued throughout 2008 and 2009 with frequent and violent demonstrations and rallies taking place in Bangkok. Terrorist attacks in Mumbai have led to the city's decline in quality of living for expatriates. Dhaka in Bangladesh holds the lowest ranking in the region at 205.
 
Mr Parakatil commented: "As a region, Asia Pacific is highly diverse. Recent political unrest and terrorist attacks in some cities in the region have negatively impacted the quality of living there. In addition to providing an appropriate hardship allowance, companies need to make sure they review their expatriate strategies by implementing specific safety measures such as ensuring their expatriates' accommodation is under surveillance and providing effective channels of communication should evacuation be necessary."
 
For city infrastructure, Singapore has the highest score world-wide (109.1). The city boasts an airport with excellent facilities and connections, as well as an efficient and extensive public transport network. Other high rankers in the region include Hong Kong (8), Sydney (11) and Tokyo (12). Dhaka ranks lowest in the region at 197.
 
In May 2008, prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing, a massive earthquake hit China's Sichuan province. The devastating quake caused the death of tens of thousands of people and extensive structural damage. Earlier in the year, portions of southern and central China were struck by severe winter storms. As a result of these natural disasters, the quality of living fell in a number of selected Chinese cities.
 
In South Asia, natural disasters, violent demonstrations and limitations on personal freedom continue to affect living conditions such as in Bangladesh. Political turmoil, internal unrest and tense relations with other countries have carried on contributing to the decline in quality of living in Pakistan. The country was also hit by an earthquake which caused the death of over several hundred of people.
 
In Sri Lanka, the internal conflict has worsened, and the situation is extremely tense, with massive population influx within the country.
 
Myanmar was hit by cyclone Nargis, the worst natural disaster ever recorded in the country. Other natural disasters that affected the region were Typhoon Fengshen, which struck the Philippines and China.
 
A couple of countries have been experiencing gradual improvement in quality of living such as New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea.