Hong Kong – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Hong Kong, thanks to its world-class infrastructure and well-educated, talented workers, is among the world’s best places to do business. Built in a comparatively small area, the city nevertheless can boast national parks and islands, along with its famous skyline, architectural landmarks, and shopping opportunities.

But how does this bustling Asian city perform in terms of reputation and influence, business attractiveness, and sustainability?

Let’s take a closer look at:

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

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

How attractive is Hong Kong as a place to work and do business?

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Hong Kong at a very strong 4^th position, currently sitting between Singapore (3^rd) and San Francisco (5^th). Within the Asia-Pacific region, it comes second, right behind Beijing.

The city also holds a strong standing in the following areas of competitiveness: Business Environment (4^th), Human Capital (4^th), Financial Sector Development (4^th), Reputational & General (4^th), and Infrastructure (7^th).

It also performs very well in the following industry sectors: Professional Services (4^th), FinTech (4^th), Finance (6^th), Investment Banking (7^th), Banking (8^th), Insurance (8^th), Trading (10^th), and Government & Regulatory (11^th).

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, it holds the 58^th position, a drop of nine positions from the previous ranking.

Hong Kong’s City Brand Strength and Global Attractiveness

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks it 46^th, scoring the following in the Place Power Highlights: 12^th for restaurants and 13^th for outdoors. It currently sits between Osaka (45^th) and Tel Aviv (47^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report continues to rank Hong Kong 10^th, the same as last year, a rank which it also holds in the Global Power City Index. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city ranks 26^th in terms of Economy, 10^th in R&D, 26^th in Cultural Interaction, 27^th in Livability, 23^rd in Environment, and 16^th in Accessibility. It ranks 5^th in the Variety of Workplace Positions, and 8^th for Average Speed.

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Hong Kong ranks 41^st globally, sitting between the Scottish capital of Edinburgh (40^th) and Seoul (42^nd).

Livability: How Attractive as a Place to Live, Work and Study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Hong Kong 77^th, whereas the same firm’s Cost of Living Ranking features it as 1^st.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Hong Kong comes last – at 56^th.

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Hong Kong 63^rd overall, sitting between Warsaw (62^nd) and Brisbane (64^th). Its sustainability pillar rankings are the following: Planet 56^th, People 65^th, Profit 45^th.

Lastly, Hong Kong is home to a group of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education Ranking, the University of Hong Kong comes 35^th, the Chinese University of Hong Kong 53^rd, the University of Hong Kong of Science and Technology 64^th, and the City University of Hong Kong 82^nd, with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University a close follower at 87^th position. Such strong educational standing is fairly unique across the world’s leading cities. These strong ranks are reflected by the QS World University Ranking with only minor variations.

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 Hong Kong’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.