Oxford Economics Launches Global Cities Index 2025
The global economy is in the midst of a period of acute uncertainty. Trade tensions and deglobalisation are causing considerable headwinds to economic growth worldwide, potentially triggering substantial shifts in supply chains and the way countries do business with each other over the coming years. Despite these uncertainties, top cities continue to be at the forefront of growth, bringing together knowledge and resources to tackle the most pressing issues.
In response to this backdrop, Oxford Economics is proud to launch the 2025 update of the Global Cities Index. First introduced in 2024, the Index ranks the top 1,000 cities worldwide, offering insights into how cities are adapting and thriving in a rapidly changing environment.
“The 2025 update of the index provides invaluable, data-driven insights for policymakers and business leaders, enabling them to unlock the potential of urban economies,” said Anthony Bernard-Sasges, Senior Economist, City Services at Oxford Economics, and lead author of the report.
Eight of the top 10 cities are the same as last year, and New York and London remain in the top spots for the second year running. Two new cities enter the top 10 this year: Boston and Sydney. Sydney takes the seventh spot due to an improvement in its Quality of Life and Environment scores, while Boston saw an increase in its Economics score.
“Several cities in India, Indonesia, and the UK have risen in the rankings this year, whereas Japanese, Canadian, and Brazilian cities mostly fell,” Bernard-Sasges noted. “Cities in the US, China, Australia, and continental Europe experienced a mix of outcomes,” the index states.
To better understand the diverse pathways of urban development, Oxford Economics has classified cities into distinct archetypes based on shared characteristics. These archetypes are: Global Leaders, Regional Leaders, Cultural Capitals, Sustainable Cities, Industrial Hubs, Legacy Cities, Developing Megacities, and Emerging Standouts.
Each city archetype faces unique opportunities and challenges, Bernard-Sasges added. “The report also explores future trends that will shape the development of cities, including the impact of generative AI, climate change and demographic shifts.”
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