GLASWEGIANS are some of the most satisfied city-­dwellers in Europe, a new study has shown.

In a European-wide study of 66 cities, around 93 per cent of Glaswegians reported they were satisfied with life in their city.

Glasgow ranked 22nd in the list, beating London, Manchester and Paris for life satisfaction.

The study follows Glasgow being named the 8th best city to visit in 2019 by travel magazine Time Out.

Iain McKenzie, 50, who lives in Townhead, said: “I think it’s quite right I’m very happy and I live just right in the city centre and I am happy with all the services.”

The least satisfied city on the index was Athens, with fewer than 55 per cent saying they were happy with life in their city. While Zurich came out top with around 98 per cent satisfied.

The research, carried out by University of Glasgow MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, found a relationship between the design of a city, levels of inequality and life satisfaction.

The study found cities which have a balance between facilities, housing and green space have lower levels of inequality in the life satisfaction of its residents.

This suggests the gap in life satisfaction among city-dwellers from deprived areas and those from more affluent areas could be reduced, if all residents have equal access to a range of facilities and types of land.

May Graham, 69, and her sister Margaret Kelly, 72, both from East Kilbride said they love coming into Glasgow to shop, but the city could make improvements.

“I think they could probably do with more housing,” May said. “Affordable housing for people who can’t buy homes,” Margaret added. “Nobody should be homeless.”

The study also found lower life satisfaction was associated with cities that had more wasteland, more land allocated for housing and more concrete or tarmacked land.

Rasa Jursa, 23, from the Gorbals, said: “I disagree there is a balance of green spaces, I just don’t feel there are enough, or they are not quite green enough.”

“I think Glaswegians are the nicest people, they don’t have the big city scariness to them,” she added.

While Alexis Galbrun, 28, from Shawlands, said: “There are a lot of green spaces, although I am a cyclist and I found Glasgow not very cyclist friendly, there are not a lot of paths, a lot of holes.”

In October, last year, Glasgow City Council published a draft Open Space Strategy looking at the green space currently available in the city. It said further studies will explore the current outdoor sports facilities and growing spaces available.

The research is the first of its kind to analyse how city landscapes affect inequalities in life satisfaction, not just life satisfaction itself.

Dr Jonathan Olsen, co-author of the study, said: “Until now there has been a strong focus on green space and housing density, but from this research we can see that this is not the whole picture.

“Our cities are continuously evolving and there is ample opportunity to ensure these are healthier and happier place to live.”