In 2024, London was the most attractive city worldwide according to the Global Power City Index (GCPI), with a score of ******. New York City and Tokyo followed with ****** and ****** points respectively. The Global Power City Index (GPCI) provides a ranking of global cities based on the following criteria: economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment, and accessibility. It is an assessment of city's power to attract people, businesses and capital from all over the world.

Based on a wide variety of categories, the top major global smart cities were ranked using an index score, where a top index score of ** was possible. Scores were based on various different categories including transport and mobility, sustainability, governance, innovation economy, digitalization, living standard, and expert perception. In more detail, the index also includes provision of smart parking and mobility, recycling rates, and blockchain ecosystem among other factors that can improve the standard of living. In 2019, Zurich, Switzerland was ranked first, achieving an overall index score of ****. Spending on smart city technology is projected to increase in the future.

Smart city applications Smart cities use data and digital technology to improve the quality of life, while changing the nature and economics of infrastructure. However, the definition of smart cities can vary widely and is based on the dynamic needs of a cities’ citizens. Mobility seems to be the most important smart city application for many cities, especially in European cities. For example, e-hailing services are available in most leading smart cities. The deployment of smart technologies that will incorporate mobility, utilities, health, security, and housing and community engagement will be important priorities in the future of smart cities.

Due to rapid urbanization over the past 20 years, many newly developed areas have lagged in socio-economic maturity, creating an imbalance with older cities and leading to the rise of "ghost cities". However, the complexity of socio-economic factors has hindered global studies from measuring this phenomenon. To address this gap, a unified framework based on urban vitality theory and multi-source data is proposed to measure the Ghost City Index (GCI), which has been validated using various data sources. The study encompasses 8,841 natural cities worldwide with areas exceeding 5 km², categorizing each into new urban areas (developed after 2005) and old urban areas (developed before 2005). Urban vitality was gauged using the density of road networks, points of interest (POIs), and population density with 1 km resolution across morphological, functional, and social dimensions. By comparing urban vitality in new and old urban areas, we quantify the GCI globally using the theory of urban vitality for the first time. The results reveal that the vitality of new urban areas is 7.69% that of old ones. The top 5% (442) of cities were designated as ghost cities, a finding mirrored by news media and other research. This study sheds light on strategies for sustainable global urbanization, crucial for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.The code file gives the calculation process of data respectively, and the excel file gives the obtained data. For the explanation of the fields in “citypoint.shp”, please refer to the Supplementary Information of the paper (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103350).Ref: Zhang, Y., Tu, T., & Long, Y. (2025). Inferring ghost cities on the globe in newly developed urban areas based on urban vitality with multi-source data. Habitat International, 158, 103350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103350

In 2023, Paris was the most livable city worldwide according to the Global Power City Index (GCPI), with *** points. Furthermore, Madrid was the second most livable city with ***** points, while Tokyo was the third with ***** points.

The criteria taken into consideration include, among others, costs and ease of living, number of retail shops and restaurants, and availability of medical services.

In 2023, the capital city of Manila in the Philippines ranked 70 out of 156 cities for the Global Cities Index Ranking - two places lower than the previous year. The ranking is determined by totaling the weighted averages of five dimensions - business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement.

A list of some key resources for comparing London with other world cities.

European Union/Eurostat, Urban Audit

Arcadis, Sustainable cities index

AT Kearney, Global Cities Index

McKinsey, Urban world: Mapping the economic power of cities

Knight Frank, Wealth report

OECD, Better Life Index

UNODC, Statistics on drugs, crime and criminal justice at the international level

Economist, Hot Spots

Economist, Global Liveability Ranking and Report August 2014

Mercer, Quality of Living Reports

PWC, Cities of opportunity

BCG, Decoding Global Talent

Forbes, World's most influential cities

Mastercard, Global Destination Cities Index

Numbeo, Database of user contributed data

In 2024, Canberra, the capital city of Australia, ranked ***** in the global Smart City Index while topping the list among the reported Asia-Pacific cities. Contrastingly, Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, ranked ***** in the Smart City Index globally.

In 2024, Copenhagen was the most environmentally friendly city worldwide according to the Global Power City Index (GCPI), with ***** points. Stockholm followed with ****points, while Vienna came third with *****. Eight out of the ten top cities are located in Europe.The criteria taken into consideration include, among others, sustainability, air quality and comfort, and urban environment.

In 2022, the leading global digital city on the index ranking shown here was Copenhagen with a score of ****. Seoul, Beijing, Amsterdam, and Singapore rounded out the top 5 for the best digital cities.

CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Hebei: Shijiazhuang data was reported at 104.200 Prev Year=100 in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 101.800 Prev Year=100 for 2020. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Hebei: Shijiazhuang data is updated yearly, averaging 108.750 Prev Year=100 from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2021, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 126.100 Prev Year=100 in 2011 and a record low of 101.800 Prev Year=100 in 2020. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Hebei: Shijiazhuang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Shijiazhuang Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Index: TI: Real Estate.

CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Shanghai data was reported at 99.700 Prev Year=100 in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 100.900 Prev Year=100 for 2022. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Shanghai data is updated yearly, averaging 104.500 Prev Year=100 from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2023, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 127.000 Prev Year=100 in 2009 and a record low of 70.700 Prev Year=100 in 2010. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Shanghai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Index: TI: Real Estate.

In 2025, Seoul was ranked **** among smart cities worldwide according to multiple indicators covering existing infrastructure, technological services, and categories under the Human Development Index (HDI). This was **** places higher than in the previous year. The capital city of South Korea has risen in global smart city rankings almost every survey year since 2019.

CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Tianjin data was reported at 96.700 Prev Year=100 in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 106.183 Prev Year=100 for 2021. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Tianjin data is updated yearly, averaging 107.050 Prev Year=100 from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2022, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 121.800 Prev Year=100 in 2001 and a record low of 88.800 Prev Year=100 in 2017. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Tianjin data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Index: TI: Real Estate.

CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Jiangsu: Yangzhou data was reported at 103.200 Prev Year=100 in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 101.800 Prev Year=100 for 2018. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Jiangsu: Yangzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 104.450 Prev Year=100 from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2021, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 124.900 Prev Year=100 in 2013 and a record low of 99.000 Prev Year=100 in 2014. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Jiangsu: Yangzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Yangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Index: TI: Real Estate.

According to the latest results of IFDAQ's Global Fashion & Luxury Cities index, New York was the leading fashion and luxury city worldwide in the first quarter of 2021, with an index value of ******. Paris and Milan followed New York in the list, with index values of ****** and ******, respectively.

CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Jiangsu: Suqian data was reported at 106.700 Prev Year=100 in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 107.300 Prev Year=100 for 2016. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Jiangsu: Suqian data is updated yearly, averaging 109.680 Prev Year=100 from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 119.700 Prev Year=100 in 2013 and a record low of 98.500 Prev Year=100 in 2014. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Real Estate: Jiangsu: Suqian data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Suqian Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Index: TI: Real Estate.

CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Education: Hebei: Shijiazhuang data was reported at 104.300 Prev Year=100 in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 111.300 Prev Year=100 for 2020. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Education: Hebei: Shijiazhuang data is updated yearly, averaging 109.600 Prev Year=100 from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2021, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 122.000 Prev Year=100 in 2006 and a record low of 103.200 Prev Year=100 in 2010. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Education: Hebei: Shijiazhuang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Shijiazhuang Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Index: TI: Education.

Zurich, Lausanne, and Geneva were ranked as the most expensive cities worldwide with indices of ************************ Almost half of the 11 most expensive cities were in Switzerland.

CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Transport, Storage and Post: Gansu: Lanzhou data was reported at 117.690 Prev Year=100 in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 114.600 Prev Year=100 for 2022. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Transport, Storage and Post: Gansu: Lanzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 112.100 Prev Year=100 from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2023, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 125.600 Prev Year=100 in 1997 and a record low of 91.900 Prev Year=100 in 2020. CN: GDP Index: PY=100: TI: Transport, Storage and Post: Gansu: Lanzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Lanzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Index: TI: Transport, Storage and Post.

As per the Global Liveability Index of 2024, five Indian cities figured on the list comprising 173 across the world. Indian megacities Delhi and Mumbai tied for 141st place with a score of **** out of 100. They were followed by Chennai (****), Ahmedabad (****), and Bengaluru (****). What are indicators for livability The list was topped by Vienna for yet another year. The index measures cities on five broad indicators such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. As per the Economic Intelligence Unit’s suggestions, if a city’s livability score is between ** to ** then “livability is substantially constrained”. Less than ** means most aspects of living are severely restricted. Least Liveable cities on the index The least liveable cities were in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa regions. Damascus and Tripoli ranked the lowest. Tel Aviv also witnessed significant drop due to war with Hamas.