IMD Smart City Rankings 2025

The IMD Smart City Rankings 2025, released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), highlights how cities across the globe are leveraging technology, infrastructure, and governance to improve urban life. Understanding this ranking is important for SSC aspirants as it covers topics like urban innovation, global city performance, and governance – areas often included in current affairs and general awareness sections.

What is a Smart City?

According to IMD, a smart city is “an urban setting that applies technology to enhance the benefits and mitigate the drawbacks of urbanisation for its citizens.” In simple terms, smart cities aim to provide better health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance through modern infrastructure and innovative policies.

Cities are assessed on five key parameters:

1. Health and Safety – How well cities protect their citizens and provide healthcare.

2. Mobility – Efficient transport and connectivity systems.

3. Activities – Availability of cultural, social, and recreational activities.

4. Opportunities – Economic and employment prospects.

5. Governance – Effective administration and citizen-centric policies.

Top 10 Smart Cities in the World 2025

The IMD Smart City Rankings 2025 list reflects dramatic shifts, especially in the Middle East and Switzerland:

Key Highlights:

• Zurich remains the world’s smartest city.

• Dubai (▲8) and Abu Dhabi (▲5) show the fastest improvement, reflecting the Middle East’s urban leadership.

• Singapore and Canberra saw slight declines.

• Swiss cities continue to excel due to citizen-focused infrastructure and innovation.

India’s Position in IMD Smart City Rankings

Despite progress under initiatives like Smart Cities Mission, Indian cities remain outside the global top 20:

Analysis:

• Delhi is the highest-ranked Indian city at 104, followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru.

• Hyderabad, despite being an IT hub, ranks lower with a CCC rating.

• Challenges include urban infrastructure gaps, governance hurdles, and sustainable mobility systems compared to top-ranking global peers.

Global Shifts in Smart City Rankings

• Middle East cities, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are emerging as major contenders in urban innovation.

• Taipei slipped from 16th to 23rd, while Ljubljana rose from 32nd to 16th.

• New entrants in 2025: AlUla (Saudi Arabia), Astana (Kazakhstan), Caracas (Venezuela), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Manama (Bahrain), and San Juan (Puerto Rico).

SSC Perspective: Why IMD Smart City Rankings Matter

For SSC aspirants, these rankings are important as they link to topics in current affairs, governance, and global development. Questions may appear under:

• Urban development and smart cities

• Global city governance

• Technological innovation in cities

Interestingly, global policy issues like U.S. reciprocal tariffs, WTO violations, India’s trade response, Global South leadership, and the MFN principle also intersect with urban development indirectly. For example:

• Countries with strong urban infrastructure often engage more effectively in global trade.

• Policies like retaliatory tariffs and Trump's trade policy influence economic opportunities, which are a ranking parameter in “Opportunities” for smart cities.

• The BRICS trade stance and adherence to a rule-based trading system can shape a city’s global competitiveness.

Understanding this helps SSC aspirants connect urban innovation with global economic policies, enhancing both current affairs and reasoning preparation.

Final Thoughts

The IMD Smart City Rankings 2025 once again highlight how cities are leveraging technology, infrastructure, and governance to enhance urban life. Swiss cities, particularly Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne, continue to dominate due to citizen-focused innovation. The Middle East is emerging as a strong contender, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi showing remarkable improvements.

While global leaders are setting benchmarks in mobility, safety, and opportunities, Indian cities are still working to bridge gaps in infrastructure and governance. The rankings reflect not just urban development, but also a city's ability to create sustainable, smart, and inclusive environments.

New entrants like AlUla, Astana, and Manama show that urban innovation is spreading beyond traditional hubs. Overall, the IMD Smart City Rankings provide a clear snapshot of global urban trends, highlighting where cities excel and where they need to improve, making it a valuable guide for policymakers, urban planners, and anyone interested in the future of cities.