The city-state continues to solidify its reputation as a premier international education hub and a regional frontrunner in urban innovation, according to the 2025 Global Cities Report by management consulting firm Kearney.
The report’s Global Cities Index uses publicly available data to score 158 cities worldwide on 31 metrics across five dimensions: business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience and political engagement.
This year, Singapore posted mild gains in political engagement and human capital, largely due to improvements in ease of entry, though these were partly offset by dips in cultural experience and business activity.
Five out of the top 10 cities are located in Asia Pacific, with Japan’s Tokyo (4th) taking the lead, followed by Singapore and China’s Beijing (6th), Hong Kong (7th) and Shanghai (8th).
Other Southeast Asian cities are further down the rankings, such as Thailand’s Bangkok at 33rd and Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur in the 55th spot.
Shigeru Sekinada, Kearney’s region chair for Asia Pacific, noted that the report underscores the resilience of established Asian hubs in the face of rising global challenges and technological shifts.
“This demonstrates the region’s ability to navigate evolving global dynamics through expanding digital infrastructure, prioritizing regulatory innovation, and investing in climate resilience,” he said in a press release for the report.
“We are optimistic that APAC cities will not only accelerate the region’s economic growth, but also serve as critical connectors of the global economy.”
The report emphasizes that in the emerging intelligence era, city competitiveness is no longer defined solely by size or historical significance.
Instead, success increasingly depends on readiness, or the ability to integrate infrastructure, renewable energy and talent to seize the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence while managing its associated risks.
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A water feature is seen in the Merlion Park along Marina Bay in Singapore, March 26, 2020. Photo by Reuters |
On the global stage, New York City retained its top position, followed by London and Paris, all holding steady from last year.
The report also features a future outlook ranking, which assesses cities’ potential to promote inclusive growth, draw in investment and maintain livability in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
On this list, Singapore stood out as the sole Southeast Asian city in the top 30, soaring from 20th last year to 3rd in 2025.
The jump reflects the city’s strengthened infrastructure, rising GDP per capita and growing foreign investment, along with its proactive approach to upgrading digital infrastructure.
