Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, is a vibrant small metropolis with short daylight hours in winter and long summer days due to its latitude. Besides Finnish being the main language, Swedish is also widely spoken, together with other languages, such as Russian and Estonian.

How does Helsinki perform in terms of economic competitiveness, sustainability, city brand strength, and appeal to talent from abroad?

Overview of Helsinki’s Performance & Potential

The following table offers an overview of Helsinki’s overall performance across various international rankings. For a deeper analysis, our custom reports provide tailored insights for specific contexts, such as cities, regions, or countries.

 

Ranking

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Brand Finance Global City Index

50

55

Resonance World’s Best Cities

84

68

48

53

30

30

Global Financial Centres Index

65

43

44

50

71

61

2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index

58

41

39

Kearney Global Cities Index

60

61

54

68

63

Mercer Quality of Living Ranking

31

34

26

Mercer Cost of Living Ranking

65

74

56

43

34

40

Numbeo Cost of Living Index

90

71

81

133

82

58

Numbeo Quality of Life Index

25

30

37

8

6

16

IESE Cities in Motion Index

22

22

20

26

28

Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index

58

 

City Brand Strength

Helsinki’s international brand is gaining recognition as a progressive, sustainable, and liveable capital. According to Brand Finance’s Global City Index 2024, it ranks 55th and in Resonance Consultancy‘s World’s Best Cities 2025 report, it ranks 30th. 

Appeal to Investors and Business

Helsinki’s reputation as a smart and efficient business hub continues to strengthen.  With one of the fastest-growing innovation profiles in Europe, Helsinki’s ranking of 39th in the 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index 2023 suggests sustained investment in creative and tech-driven sectors. The city’s seamless digital services, sustainability credentials, and world-class infrastructure make it attractive for international firms and investors.

Appeal to Talent

Helsinki’s greatest asset is its livability. According to Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index 2025, Helsinki ranks 16th globally, offering exceptional safety, education, healthcare, and mobility.

Urban Sustainability

While Helsinki scores 58th in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024, it ranks 1st in the Global Destination Sustainability Index 2024, demonstrating leadership in tourism sustainability and local green policies.

Our Key Takeaways

Helsinki is a rising Nordic city brand known for its smart infrastructure, exceptional livability, and good governance. It excels in talent attraction, sustainability innovation, and digital governance, but needs to improve global visibility and environmental metrics across broader datasets.

  • Strengths: Quality of life, digital innovation, strong governance..

  • Weaknesses: Low traditional finance standing, high cost of living.

  • Opportunities: Leadership in climate tech, further develop the Fintech sector.

  • Threats: Limited cultural visibility, environmental perception gap.



Last updated in May 2025. Explore more city profiles here.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Helsinki’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.