Zurich, Oslo, and Geneva lead the global list, while Singapore holds steady as Asia’s top-performing smart city, according to IMD.
The IMD Smart City Index 2025 ranks 146 cities based on how effectively they are integrating technology and infrastructure to improve urban life. Each city receives a Smart City Ranking, which reflects its overall position compared to all other cities measured, based on its rating and related components.
To ensure fair comparisons, cities are assigned to one of four groups based on their Human Development Index (HDI) values. Their Smart City Rating is then calculated by comparing each city’s performance relative to others within the same group.
The world’s top 20 smart cities in 2025 are as follows:
According to the index, these are the 20 cities leading the way in smart city development:
- Zurich
- Oslo
- Geneva
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- London
- Copenhagen
- Canberra
- Singapore
- Lausanne
- Helsinki
- Prague
- Seoul
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Ljubljana
- Amsterdam
- Stockholm
- Hong Kong
- Hamburg
Where Asian cities stand
In addition to Singapore, several Asian cities secured spots in the top 100:
| No. | City | Global ranking |
| 1 | Singapore | 9th |
| 2 | Seoul | 13th | 3 | Beijing | 14th | 4 | Shanghai | 15th | 5 | Hong Kong | 19th | 6 | Taipei City | 23rd | 7 | Doha | 33rd | 8 | Shenzhen | 50th | 9 | Hangzhou | 54th | 10 | Guangzhou | 55th | 11 | Nanjing | 58th | 12 | Busan | 60th | 13 | Kuala Lumpur | 65th | 14 | Chongqing | 69th | 15 | Bangkok | 86th | 16 | Hanoi | 88th |
Methodology
The IMD Smart City Index 2025 measures how residents perceive the infrastructure and technological services in their cities. This year’s edition ranks 146 cities globally, drawing on the insights of 120 residents per city. Final scores are calculated using a three-year weighted average of survey responses, with weights of 3:2:1 applied to the years 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
The Index is built around two main pillars: 'Structures', which covers the physical infrastructure in place, and 'Technology', which focuses on digital services and technological accessibility.
Both pillars are assessed across five key aspects: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance.
Full methodology available in the report.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Umairah Nasi
Quelle/Source: Human Resources Online, 02.05.2025
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