Fact Check: Is global ranking of cities?

Is Global Ranking of Cities?

The claim regarding the global ranking of cities pertains to various methodologies and indices that assess and compare urban areas based on multiple criteria, including livability, economic power, and technological advancement. These rankings often generate significant interest from policymakers, businesses, and residents alike, as they can influence perceptions and decisions regarding investment, tourism, and urban development.

What We Know

1. World's Best Cities Report: According to the 2025 World's Best Cities report published by Resonance, London ranks as the top city globally. The ranking is based on a combination of core statistics from over 400 cities and perception indicators from surveys of residents and visitors, focusing on "Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity" to determine a city's Place Power™ Score [1][3].

2. Smart City Index: The IMD Smart City Index 2025 ranks 146 cities based on residents' perceptions of infrastructure and technological services. The methodology involves surveying 120 residents per city and calculating scores using a three-year weighted average [2][6].

3. Global Cities Index: The Global Cities Index 2025, produced by Oxford Economics, ranks cities based on their economic significance, with New York holding the top position. This index evaluates cities on various factors, including economic performance, cultural influence, and political power [4].

4. Global Power City Index (GPCI): The GPCI assesses 48 cities based on 70 indicators across multiple dimensions, including economy, research and development, and cultural interaction. The methodology aims to provide a comprehensive view of each city's strengths and weaknesses [5].

5. Critiques of City Rankings: A report titled "Beyond the Scorecard" discusses the varying methodologies of city rankings and questions their utility and accuracy. It emphasizes the need for a critical examination of how rankings are constructed and what they truly reflect about a city [7].

Analysis

The methodologies employed in these rankings vary significantly, which raises questions about their comparability and reliability. For instance, the World's Best Cities report relies heavily on subjective perceptions, which can be influenced by individual experiences and biases. This reliance on user-generated ratings and reviews may introduce variability that does not accurately reflect the overall conditions of a city [1][3].

Conversely, the IMD Smart City Index uses a more structured approach by surveying a defined number of residents, but it still hinges on subjective perceptions of infrastructure and services [2][6]. The weighting of survey responses over three years aims to provide stability in the rankings, yet it may not capture sudden changes in a city's circumstances or reputation.

The Global Cities Index and GPCI focus more on objective metrics related to economic and cultural factors, which may provide a more stable basis for comparison. However, these indices may overlook qualitative aspects that contribute to a city's livability and attractiveness [4][5].

Moreover, the potential for bias in these rankings is a critical concern. Organizations producing these indices may have vested interests or specific agendas that could influence their methodologies and interpretations. For example, the involvement of private firms in producing rankings could lead to conflicts of interest, as their findings may be used to promote their services or products [7].

In summary, while these rankings can provide valuable insights into urban dynamics, they should be interpreted with caution. The methodologies behind them warrant scrutiny, and the subjective nature of some assessments can lead to misleading conclusions.

Conclusion

Verdict: True

The claim regarding the global ranking of cities is substantiated by various credible indices that assess urban areas based on multiple criteria. Key evidence includes the 2025 World's Best Cities report, which ranks London as the top city based on a combination of statistical data and perception indicators, and the IMD Smart City Index, which evaluates cities based on residents' perceptions of infrastructure and services. Additionally, the Global Cities Index and GPCI provide further context by focusing on economic and cultural metrics.

However, it is important to note that the methodologies of these rankings vary significantly, which can affect their comparability and reliability. The reliance on subjective perceptions in some indices may introduce biases that do not accurately reflect the overall conditions of a city. Furthermore, potential conflicts of interest in the organizations producing these rankings could influence their findings.

Given these nuances, while the rankings provide valuable insights, they should be interpreted with caution. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented and consider the limitations of the methodologies used in these rankings.

Sources

1. World's Best Cities. Methodology. Available at: World's Best Cities
2. Human Resources Online. How global cities rank on the Smart City Index 2025. Available at: Human Resources Online
3. Ipsos. The World's Best Cities Survey 2025. Available at: Ipsos
4. Oxford Economics. Global Cities Index 2025. Available at: Oxford Economics
5. Institute for Urban Strategies. Global Power City Index. Available at: Mori Foundation
6. IMD Business School. Methodology - IMD Smart City Observatory. Available at: IMD
7. Global Affairs. Beyond the Scorecard: Understanding Global City Rankings. Available at: Global Affairs
8. Justin O'Beirne. Global City Importance Model. Available at: Justin O'Beirne