The 2025 Global Cities Index has reaffirmed New York and London as the top two cities worldwide for the second consecutive year. Paris secured the third position, while Sydney and Boston joined the top 10 as new entrants.
Produced by Oxford Economics, a prominent global economic advisory firm, the index evaluated 1,000 cities based on key criteria including human capital, quality of life, environment, economic strength, and governance. Each city was scored on a scale of 100.
New York scored a perfect 100, maintaining its status as the world's largest metropolitan economy, while London followed closely with a score of 98.5, ranking as the fourth-largest metro economy globally. Both cities boast significant hubs for business, finance, education, numerous universities, and corporate headquarters.
Paris claimed the third spot with a score of 94.4, driven by its rich cultural heritage and high life expectancy. Joining Paris in the top five were San Jose (94.2) and Seattle (91.8), both recognized for their high GDP per capita and superior quality of life.
Melbourne ranked sixth with a score of 90.7. Sydney and Boston made a strong impact as new top 10 entrants, scoring 90.6 and 90.3 respectively, alongside Tokyo and San Francisco, which also scored 90.3.
Anthony Bernard Sasges, Senior Economist and the report's lead author, emphasized the value of the index, stating, "The 2025 update provides invaluable, data-driven insights for policymakers and business leaders, enabling them to unlock the potential of urban economies."
