Quality of Life in Prague: Districts 2, 7 and 8 Lead the Rankings

A recent survey on quality of life in Prague’s city districts reveals clear differences between the various parts of the capital. Residents of Prague 2, Prague 7 and Prague 8 are particularly satisfied, while Prague 1 performs surprisingly poorly.

How satisfied are Prague residents with life in their city district? The Phoenix Research agency investigated this question in September. The results show that it is not necessarily the best-known or most central districts that receive the highest ratings from residents.

As the online magazine SIMED reports, Prague 2, Prague 7 and Prague 8 are among the highest-rated city districts. By contrast, Prague 1, the historic centre and one of the best-known parts of the Czech capital, finished near the bottom of the rankings. Four key areas of quality of life were assessed: transport, safety, healthcare and social services, as well as the environment and cleanliness. Participants gave their ratings on a five-point scale based on the Czech school grading system.

Prague 2 receives mixed ratings

In Prague 2, however, the ratings vary considerably depending on the area. Transport performs particularly poorly, with a grade of 4.5. By contrast, residents rate healthcare, social services, as well as the environment and cleanliness significantly better, with the district receiving a grade of 2 in each of these areas. According to Phoenix Research, the large number of regularly maintained parks is a major factor contributing to Prague 2’s good overall result. The cleanliness of the streets and social services are also viewed positively by residents.

Foto: IPR Praha

Prague 7: better quality of life through new parks and improved connections

Prague 7 points to numerous improvements made in recent years that are intended to make the district more liveable and better connected. New links such as the Štvanice pedestrian bridge, Bubny railway station and redesigned streets have opened up previously difficult-to-access areas while also reducing through traffic. Riverside areas along the Vltava have also been upgraded, and new parks, playgrounds and sports facilities have been created. Mayor Jan Čižinský sees this as an important reason why many residents feel comfortable and safe in Prague 7.

Green spaces as an advantage for Prague 8

The Mayor of Prague 8, Ondřej Gros, attributes the strong performance of his district partly to its high proportion of green spaces. In his view, residents appreciate the fact that Prague 8 is one of the greenest parts of the capital. The district administration aims to maintain green spaces as carefully as possible while continuing to expand them through additional planting.

In Prague 6, healthcare, social services, as well as the environment and cleanliness are also rated particularly positively. By contrast, the transport situation is a particular source of dissatisfaction, with residents giving this area a grade of 4.5.

Prague 3, Prague 4, Prague 9, Prague 10 and Prague 13 are in the middle of the survey rankings.

Prague 1, Prague 5 and Prague 14 performed the weakest

In Prague 1 and Prague 5, the transport situation is the main source of dissatisfaction. Both districts received the lowest grade of 5 in this category. Safety, as well as the environment and cleanliness, were also rated comparatively critically by respondents.

Prague 14 received a grade of 4 in all four areas examined, placing it at the bottom of the city districts assessed.