Oxford Global Cities Index 2026: Delhi Ranks 268th Among 1,000 Cities

In the 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index ranking of the world’s 1,000 largest cities across five categories – Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance, Delhi is ranked 268th and becomes the best-ranked Indian city in the 2026 index. Bengaluru comes second with 311th rank and Mumbai with 330th rank. In terms of global rankings, New York leads in first place followed by London and Paris.

Performance of Delhi in the Five Categories

The overall ranking of Delhi varies greatly between the five categories of the index. The best performance of Delhi is in Human Capital category whereas its rankings in Quality of Life and Environment are relatively poor.

The  index rates the cities based on several socioeconomic parameters rather than basing on one single parameter. Oxford Economics mentions that its methodology combines five category scores into one overall score.

Top Indian Cities in the Ranking 2026

There are many Indian cities have featured in the 1000 cities which are being measured for the ranking. Delhi has topped the list with Indian entry and major cities are also part of it.

City Evaluation by Oxford Economics

Global Cities Index considers the following five broad dimensions,

• Economy: Size of economy, GDP growth rate, stability, per capita GDP, and job creation and diversity of economy.
• Human Capital: Education and skills of the labour force and its ability to attract talent.
• Quality of Life: Quality of life and well-being, including amenities.
• Environment: Environmental quality and sustainability.
• Governance: Institution strengths and civic efficiency.

Each dimension is rated out of 100, with a final rating that is a sum of the ratings for all five dimensions. The scoring system involves Oxford Economics city forecasts, in addition to the standardized data sources, providing the index with a forward-looking element.

Here Top Cities in the World in 2026

Static Facts Pertaining to Oxford Global Cities Index

The Global Cities Index has been developed by the Oxford Economics, which is a global economic research and forecasting firm.

The index was introduced in the year 2024 and assesses the world’s 1,000 largest cities based on a multidimensional approach.

The year 2026 Global Cities Index continues the five-dimensional classification including Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment, and Governance.