Cape Town in South Africa is globally renowned for its striking natural setting, cultural diversity, and strategic positioning as a gateway to the African continent. Its scenic beauty and growing innovation ecosystem have helped position it as a leading destination for tourism and business in South Africa.
But what do international rankings and indices have to say about Cape Town in terms of its economic performance, sustainability, city brand strength, and reputation?
Overview of Cape Town’s Global Performance
The following graph offers a snapshot of Cape Town’s overall performance across various international rankings. This overview highlights the city’s appeal to different audiences, including investors and talent appeal.
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Focus Areas
Soft Power and Brand Strength
Cape Town enjoys a visible cultural footprint and international reputation, demonstrated by its place in the Brand Finance Global City Index 2024 at 60 out of 100. Its, position at 85 out of 100 in the Resonance World’s Best Cities 2025 ranking underscores how the city’s scenic beauty and cultural identity continue to shape its global image.
Appeal to Investors and Business
The city ranks 84 out of 121 in the Global Financial Centres Index 36, experiencing a marginal dip of one spot compared to previous reports. Cape Town also appears in the Kearney Global Cities Report at 84 out of 156 for the 2023 Global Cities Index (down by four) and 128 out of 156 in the Global Cities Outlook (down by six). Within the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index, Cape Town stands at 445 out of 1000 overall, showing relatively stronger performance in Environment (83) but weaker results in Quality of Life (881). Meanwhile, the city’s position in the 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index is 282 out of 500, having climbed 52 places and reflecting a promising trajectory for local entrepreneurship.
Appeal to Talent
The city is home to one of the best universities in the region, making it an attractive place of study. The University of Cape Town ranks 180th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 and 171st in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
Cape Town’s quality of living credentials appear in the Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking 2024 at 105 out of 241, a slight drop of three places. The Mercer Cost of Living Ranking 2024 puts the city at 209 out of 226, up by one position. Meanwhile, it stands at 85 out of 200 on the Numbeo Quality of Life Index, and 240 out of 370 on the Numbeo Cost of Living Index, suggesting moderate affordability and liveability compared to many other world cities.
Urban Sustainability
Cape Town’s performance in the Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2024 stands at 97 out of 100, having fallen by eight places. Although its Planet score (76) remains respectable, People (98) and Profit (98) signal opportunities for improvement. The IESE Cities in Motion Index 2024 ranks Cape Town at 141 out of 183, with noted strengths in International Profile (95) and Urban Planning (108) but lower marks in Social Cohesion (175) and Mobility (172).
Performance Over Time
The following table summarises Cape Town’s performance across key rankings over time:
| Ranking | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Brand Finance Global City Index | – | – | 60 | 66 | – |
| Resonance World’s Best Cities | – | – | – | – | 85 |
| Global Financial Centres Index | 62 | 64 | 91 | 84 | – |
| 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index | – | – | 282 | – | – |
| Kearney Global Cities Index | 81 | 80 | 84 | 90 | – |
| Mercer Quality of Living City | 102 | – | 105 | – | – |
| Mercer Cost of Living | 178 | 194 | 210 | 209 | – |
| Numbeo Cost of Living Index | 404 | 402 | 413 | 290 | 248 |
| Numbeo Quality of Life Index | 130 | 130 | 123 | 83 | 125 |
| IESE Cities in Motion Index | – | 141 | – | 141 | – |
| Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index | – | 89 | – | 97 | – |
Our Key Takeaways
Although Cape Town has a globally brand recognised, fostered by its cultural appeal and scenic landscapes, its strained infrastructure and social imbalances pose ongoing hurdles, reflected in weak sustainability scores and declining city-outlook rankings. Strategic investments in inclusive growth, environmental stewardship, and digital infrastructure could fortify its position as both an attractive investment destination and a hub for international talent.
SWOT Summary
- Strengths: Scenic beauty, attractive tertiary education establishment, an emerging technology sector, and a relatively competitive cost of living.
- Weaknesses: Infrastructure challenges, moderate sustainability scores, and recent dips in global outlook rankings.
- Opportunities: Expanding the start-up ecosystem, leveraging environmental assets, and improving governance to boost city branding.
- Threats: Economic uncertainty, social inequality, and climate change risks.
Last updated in February 2025. Explore more city profiles here, or learn how our custom reports provide in-depth insights into rankings, brand performance, and perceptions to help decision-makers enhance the reputation and identity of their cities, regions, or countries. Designed for leaders in place branding, our reports combine expert analysis with tailored recommendations to drive impact.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Cape Town’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, the data is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Please verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.
