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Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026

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2026-10-06 14:35 UTC → 2026-10-13 01:45 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index has evaluated 1,000 urban areas across 163 countries, measuring performance across economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance. New York holds the top global position, ~~leading both the overall ranking and~~ marking its third consecutive year as the ~~economic category, followed by London and Paris. New York~~ world’s best city. The metropolis achieved a “perfect score of 100 out of 100,” driven by its economic strength, labor ~~market,~~ market dynamism, and its capacity to concentrate talent and investment. This economic dominance is supported by a $2.6 trillion economic scale, though the report notes this scale contributes to a local housing affordability crisis and environmental vulnerabilities. New York scored 89.5 in human capital and 80.8 in quality of life. London ~~secured second place with 98.8 points, while~~ and Paris followed in second and third ~~with 93.4 points.~~ place, respectively. Seattle has been identified as the fourth-ranked city globally, surpassing San Francisco, Tokyo, and Zurich. Seattle’s high standing is attributed to a robust corporate ecosystem including Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing, which contributes to a per capita income of $152,000. The city also maintains a high quality of life, ranking 22nd globally. In the quality of life category, Bergen, Norway, has emerged as the top European city and ranks second globally, trailing only Canberra, Australia. Bergen’s performance is driven by high income levels, low income inequality, and a strong work-life balance. The top ten is heavily influenced by U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Boston, San Jose, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. Other top-ten cities include Dublin, Tokyo, and Zurich. Tokyo was identified as the highest-performing East Asian city at ninth place, while Zurich took the tenth spot. In India, Delhi holds the highest national rank at 268th globally. Within the state of Kerala, seven cities appeared in the index, led by Thrissur (477th), Kochi (489th), and Kozhikode (499th). Among all Indian cities evaluated, Kottayam achieved the highest quality of life score. The report notes a shift in economic geography toward Asian cities such as Shenzhen, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur, which are identified as cities to watch for future growth.

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