Berlin – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Berlin, ever since reunification, has been a mecca of the alternative art world, offering a great variety of opportunities for creatives. Apart from that, it is also a start-up haven and the capital of Germany, and as such, a political heavyweight.

But what do leading city rankings have to say about Berlin regarding its economic and urban sustainability performance, its city brand strength, and its reputation?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• Livability: Berlin’s appeal for talent, visitors, and locals
• Its city brand strength and reputation

Economic Competitiveness

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Berlin 23^rd, jumping three positions from the previous ranking. It currently sits between Sydney (22^nd) and Miami (24^th)—performing especially well in the Fintech (14^th) and Finance (15^th) industry sectors. Berlin holds the 8^th place in the Western European region, closely tied with Amsterdam and Dublin.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023 Berlin ranks 11^th, an impressive jump of 20 positions from the previous ranking, now between Houston (10^th) and Chicago (12^th).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Berlin ranks 18^th globally, with a score of 71.8/100, sitting between Zurich (17^th) and Milan (19^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Berlin 14^th, scoring 5^th in Museums and 6^th in Nightlife. It currently sits between Madrid (13^th) and Los Angeles (15^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Berlin 16^th, falling two positions compared to last year’s publication. It still ranks in the top 25 for Global Cities Outlook, positioning 21^st, but experienced a drop of nine positions since the previous ranking.

The Global Power City Index ranks Berlin a strong 10^th. In terms of specific areas, the city ranks 29^th in Economy, 17^th in R&D, 10^th in Cultural Interaction, 6^th in Livability, 9^th in Environment, and 23^rd in Accessibility. Admirably, Berlin ranks 2^nd in Urban Greenery and 8^th for Nightlife Options. Lastly, Berlin positioned 10^th in terms of appeal to highly-skilled workers, 27^th among corporate executives, 7^th among residents, and 11^th among visitors.

How Attractive for Talent, Investors, and Visitors?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Berlin 18^th, whereas the same company’s Cost of Living Ranking puts Berlin 37^th, behind Paris (35^th) and Guangzhou, China (36^th). The cost of living survey reports that factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices are key to determining the cost of expat packages for employees on international assignments.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Berlin ranks 21^st out of 56 cities globally. It currently sits between Melbourne (20^th) and Vienna (22^nd).

Lastly, Berlin is home to some of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education ranking, Humboldt University ranks 87^th and Charité – Universitätsmedizin 94^th. The QS World University ranking does not rank the aforementioned universities in the top 100, but it positions Freie Universität 98^th.

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Berlin a very strong 5^th overall, sitting between Copenhagen (4^th) and London (6^th). Berlin’s specific ranks are Planet 5^th, People 11^th, and Profit 33^rd. The city scores highest for green spaces and environmental exposure. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is still a challenge.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles here.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Berlin’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.