Tokyo overtakes New York to rank second in global city index

Tokyo overtook New York to rank second globally for the first time in the Global Power City Index 2025, a yearly benchmark of global urban competitiveness, according to a report released on December 17th by the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies.

Ranking graphic courtesy of the Mori Memorial Foundation.

The Global Power City Index, compiled annually since 2008, evaluates 48 major cities worldwide across six categories - economy, research and development, culture and exchange, livability, environment, and accessibility - using 72 indicators.

Global Rankings 2025

1. London

2. Tokyo

3. New York

4. Paris

5. Singapore

Tokyo’s rise was driven primarily by stronger performance in culture and exchange and livability. The city ranked second globally for tourist attractions and first for nightlife, aided by the introduction of a new indicator measuring visitor satisfaction.

Tokyo also scored highly for work-life flexibility and ranked first worldwide for the number of restaurants, reinforcing its appeal as a place to live and visit.

In the environment category, Tokyo posted notable gains, supported by improvements in corporate sustainability indicators and expanded access to green spaces.

While the city’s economic ranking slipped slightly compared with last year, improvements in GDP growth suggested a recovery trend approaching pre-pandemic levels.

Challenges remain, however. Tokyo continued to score relatively low in wage competitiveness and in its ability to attract highly skilled workers.

In research and development, the city ranked strongly for the number of startups, though the report noted that scaling those businesses into globally competitive firms remains an ongoing issue.

Sources:

Global Power City Index 2025

R.E. Port News (Japanese only)