Leading Place Brand Brand Rankings & Indices: Cities and Countries

Overview of city, country brand rankings and indices

Rankings and indices provide valuable insights into the performance of countries and cities. These tools help us track progress over time and compare different places on various metrics. Below, you’ll find a curated list of rankings, indices, and studies that we reference in our Place Observatory.


Country Brand Rankings and Indices

Global Soft Power Index

Published by: Brand Finance

The Global Soft Power Index by Brand Finance is among the world’s most comprehensive studies on perceptions of national brands, evaluating countries based on their influence and reputation on the global stage. More Information


Anholt Ipsos Nation Brands Index

Published by: Ipsos / Simon Anholt

Measures the image and reputation of nations, tracking their profiles as they rise or fall. Surveys nearly 20,000 people in 20 countries, evaluating 50 countries. More Information


U.S. News Best Countries

Published by: U.S. News & World Report

The overall ranking of Best Countries has measured for eighth years the global performance of 87 nations on a variety of metrics. More Information


Expat Insider

Published by: InterNations

The Expat Insider survey is currently in its 11th edition and is one of the largest of its kind providing insights into the expat experience. It represents 174 countries. More Information


Country Brand Ranking (Digital, Tourism and Trade)

Published by: Bloom Consulting

Measures the effectiveness of country, city, and region brands in attracting tourism, investment, and talent. More Information


World Competitiveness Ranking

Published by: IMD

It provides benchmarking and exposes trends, using both statistics and real-world survey data. It provides extensive coverage of 67 global economies and is a worldwide reference on the competitiveness of economies in a bid to provide actionable data analysis on economies, regions and sub-regions. More Information


Global Talent Competitiveness Index

Published by: INSEAD

The report is a comprehensive annual benchmarking report that measures how countries and cities grow, attract and retain talent. The latest report covers 134 countries across all income groups. More Information


European Innovation Scoreboard

Published by: European Commission

Provides a comparative assessment of the Research and Innovation performance of EU Member States, other European, and selected third countries. It helps assess the relative strengths and weaknesses national innovation systems and identify challenges that they need to address. More Information


World University Rankings

Published by: The Times Higher Education

Reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting and includes 1,907 universities across 108 countries and regions. More Information


World Giving Index

Published by: Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)

This long-running study examines the scope and nature of giving around the world and offers a unique insight into how people engage in social activities for the benefit of their communities. More Information


Good Country Index

Published by: Simon Anholt

Evaluates how countries contribute to global society and the planet. Uses data from U.N. and other international organizations. More Information


Democracy Index

Published by: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Analyses the relationship between democracy, war and peace and looks at the geopolitical drivers of conflict, while providing explanations for changes in the global rankings and an in-depth regional overview. More Information


Corruption Perception Index

Published by: Transparency International

The index ranks 180 countries and territories around the globe by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. More Information


Environmental Performance Index

Published by: Yale Centre for Environmental Law & Policy

Ranks 180 countries on environmental health and ecosystem vitality across 24 performance indicators. More Information


Sustainable Development Report

Published by: UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

Reviews progress made on the Sustainable Development Goals and recommends a set of key reforms to the UN to meet the challenges of the 21st century. More Information


Global Peace Index

Published by: Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)

Ranks countries by their level of peacefulness. More Information


Global Terrorism Index

Published by: Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)

Ranks 163 countries by the impact of terrorism. More Information


World Happiness Report

Published by: WHR Editorial Board

Reflects a worldwide demand for more attention to happiness and well-being as criteria for government policy. More Information


City Brand Rankings and Indices

Brand Finance City Index

Published by: Brand Finance

The Brand Finance City Index ranks cities based on their brand strength and value. The index assesses perceptions of 100 cities worldwide through a survey of over 15,000 respondents across 20 countries. The rankings reflect factors such as business environment, tourism appeal, cultural significance, and quality of life. More Information


Best Cities Ranking

Published by: Resonance Consultancy

Evaluates cities with a population of one million or more across six pillars of place equity: Place, Product, Programming, People, Prosperity, and Promotion. More Information


Global Financial Centres Index

Published by: Z/Yen Partners and China Development Institute

Compares the competitiveness  and progress of the world’s leading financial centres. More Information


Innovation Cities Index

Published by: 2thinknow

Measures and ranks the growing urban innovation of city economies. More Information


Global Cities Report

Published by: Kearney

Assesses the extent to which cities are able to attract, retain, and generate global flows of capital, people, and ideas, measuring current and potential future performance. More Information


Global Power City Index

Published by: The Mori Memorial Foundation

Evaluates and ranks the major cities of the world according to their “magnetism,” or their comprehensive power to attract people, capital, and enterprises from around the world. More Information


Anholt – Ipsos City Brands Index

Published by: Anholt and Ipsos

Measures the image and reputation of the world’s cities and tracks their profiles as they rise or fall.


EUI Global Livability Index

Published by: Economist Intelligence Unit

Assesses which locations provide the best or worst living conditions based on over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors. More Information


Mercer Quality of Living Ranking

Published by: Mercer

Annual survey to help multinational companies compensate employees fairly during international assignments. More Information


Mercer Cost of Living Ranking

Published by: Mercer

Provides valuable trends and insights for those who need to make informed decisions about global mobility operations and international assignees. More Information


Cities in Motion Index

Published by: IESE Business School

Identifies what makes a world-class city, from attracting and retaining the best talent to promoting economic development and environmental protections. It ranks cities by how sustainable, livable, and able to weather economic and climate-related shocks. More Information


Sustainable Cities Index

Published by: Arcadis

Ranks 100 global cities on three dimensions of sustainability: People, Planet, and Profit. More Information


World University Rankings

Published by: The Times Higher Education

Reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting and includes 1,907 universities across 108 countries and regions. More Information


The QS World University Ranking

Published by: Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)

Assesses and ranks over 1,500 universities across 105 higher education systems. More Information