Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026 ranks top urban centers

The Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026 has ranked 1,000 urban centers based on economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance. New York, London, and Paris secured the top three global positions.

Seattle ranked fourth globally, surpassing cities such as San Francisco, Tokyo, and Zurich. The city's high ranking is attributed to a strong corporate ecosystem including Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing, contributing to a per capita income of $152,000. Seattle also maintains a high quality of life, ranking 22nd globally.

In India, Delhi holds the highest national rank at 268th globally. From the state of Kerala, seven cities appeared in the index. Thrissur led the state at 477th, followed by Kochi at 489th and Kozhikode at 499th. Other featured cities from Kerala include Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, and Kannur. Notably, Kottayam achieved the highest quality of life score among all Indian cities evaluated.