Key Takeaways

• Zurich, Oslo, and Geneva lead the IMD Smart City Index 2025, with Singapore ranking as Asia’s top city.
• A total of 146 cities were assessed based on technology integration and urban infrastructure.
• The index considers perceptions of residents and categorizes cities by Human Development Index scores.

2025 Smart City Rankings

The IMD Smart City Index 2025 has evaluated 146 cities worldwide based on their efficiency in integrating technology and infrastructure to enhance urban living. The top three cities are Zurich, Oslo, and Geneva, followed by Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Singapore remains the leading smart city in Asia despite falling from 5th to 9th place.

European cities dominate the rankings, showcasing their commitment to smart city development. The complete list of the top 20 cities is as follows:

1. Zurich
2. Oslo
3. Geneva
4. Dubai
5. Abu Dhabi
6. London
7. Copenhagen
8. Canberra
9. Singapore
10. Lausanne
11. Helsinki
12. Prague
13. Seoul
14. Beijing
15. Shanghai
16. Ljubljana
17. Amsterdam
18. Stockholm
19. Hong Kong
20. Hamburg

Singapore heads the rankings within Asia, with several other cities also making it to the top 100, including Seoul (13th), Beijing (14th), and Shanghai (15th). Notable positions for other Asian cities include Taipei City (23rd), Doha (33rd), and Hong Kong (19th).

The methodology employed for the IMD Smart City Index relies on resident perceptions of local infrastructure and technological services. This edition incorporates responses from 120 residents per city, and the final scores are derived from a three-year weighted average, with different weights assigned to each year. The evaluation methodology centers around two primary pillars: “Structures,” which encompasses physical infrastructure, and “Technology,” which pertains to digital services. Both areas are judged on five critical aspects: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance.

Cities are classified into four groups determined by their Subnational Human Development Index (SHDI) scores, and their ratings are adjusted based on performance relative to other cities in the same group. For a detailed methodology breakdown, the full report is available.

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