Dublin ranks eighth among EU capitals in overall quality of life according to a new survey.

The city also ranks eighth in the EU for personal safety/security.

The rankings place Dublin well ahead of London, Rome and Athens but behind Vienna, Luxembourg, Amsterdam and Brussels. The survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting as part of a global quality of life survey to "help government and major companies to place employees on international assignments".

On a global basis, Dublin ranks 27th in terms of personal safety and security out of 215 cities worldwide and 22nd for overall quality of life, up one place on last year's survey.

Brian Duncan, head of Mercer's human capital practice in Ireland, said: "This improved ranking can be attributed to enhancements in the transport infrastructure, most noticeably for Dublin, the Luas."

Ranking for personal safety and security are based on relationships with other countries, internal stability, crime and terrorism. Law enforcement, censorship and limitations on personal freedom are also taken into account, according to Mercer.

London was marked down, along with Madrid, over terrorism fears. Along with Athens and Rome, it also suffered as a result of petty crime.

Globally, Geneva topped the list for overall quality of life, followed by Zurich. Baghdad came bottom. On personal safety and security, Luxembourg scored highest, followed by Helsinki and three Swiss cities.

Cities in western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand ranked highly in the list. Among US cities, Honolulu and San Francisco rated highest overall, largely due to lower crime levels than other US cities.

Thirty-nine quality of life criteria were taken into account in assessing performance.