London has secured its position as the world’s best city for the 10th consecutive year in the 2025 rankings, released on November 20. The UK capital was followed by New York and Paris, which claimed the second and third spots, respectively. The rankings, compiled by Resonance Consultancy in collaboration with Ipsos, evaluated cities on their ability to attract talent, visitors, and businesses, using a range of factors to determine their global appeal.
Key Metrics for Ranking Cities
The rankings are based on three main metrics:
Livability: This includes factors such as rent affordability, healthcare quality, and bike-friendly infrastructure.
Lovability: This measures cultural vibrancy, culinary experiences, and social appeal, with data derived from platforms like Tripadvisor and Instagram hashtags.
Prosperity: This evaluates economic strength and human capital, including corporate presence, educational attainment, and poverty rates.
Indian Cities Struggle to Enter the Top 100
Despite London’s continued dominance, no Indian city made it into the top 100. Mumbai and Delhi, while strong contenders in the Asia-Pacific region, ranked just outside the global top 100 due to challenges related to livability.
Chris Fair, President and CEO of Resonance Consultancy, pointed out that Indian cities have strengths but also face significant challenges on the global scale. “From a global perspective, Indian cities have particular strengths but also key weaknesses that prevent them from breaking into the top tier,” he explained. However, Mumbai and Delhi still perform well in the Asia-Pacific region, consistently ranking among the top 20 cities.
US Cities Dominate the Rankings
The United States continues to dominate the rankings, with 36 cities in the top 100, followed by Canada with six cities. Notably, Cape Town made its debut in the 2025 rankings, and Rio de Janeiro saw a strong entry.
In summary, London’s reign at the top continues, while Indian cities, though significant regionally, have challenges in competing globally for a spot in the world’s top 100 cities.
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