Smart City Index 2025 Rankings: Zurich Tops, Where Do Indian Cities Stand?

The IMD Smart City Index 2025, released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), has once again highlighted how cities across the world are leveraging technology, infrastructure, and governance to improve urban life. While Swiss cities continue to dominate, the Middle East has made dramatic leaps, and Indian cities remain outside the global top 20.

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.”

Cities are ranked based on five key parameters:

• Health and Safety
• Mobility
• Activities
• Opportunities
• Governance

IMD Top 10 Smart Cities in the World 2025

Key Highlights from 2025 Rankings:

• Zurich remains the world’s smartest city.
• Dubai (▲8) and Abu Dhabi (▲5) show the fastest improvement, signalling the Middle East’s growing urban leadership.
• Singapore slips from 5th to 9th place, while Canberra drops from 3rd to 8th.
• Swiss cities (Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne) continue to excel due to citizen-focused infrastructure and innovation.

Where Do Indian Cities Rank?

Although Indian cities are progressing in the global smart city movement, they are still far from the top 20 list.

Analysis of India’s Performance:

• Delhi ranks the highest among Indian cities at 104.
• Mumbai and Bengaluru also feature but at low positions.
• Hyderabad, despite being an IT hub, ranks at 109 with a weaker CCC rating.
• India’s challenge lies in urban infrastructure gaps, governance hurdles, and sustainable mobility systems compared to top-ranking global peers.

Global Shifts in Smart City Rankings

• Middle East cities (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) are now serious contenders.
• Taipei City (Taiwan) slipped from 16th to 23rd, while Ljubljana (Slovenia) 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).