Osaka – Economic Performance, City Brand Strength and Reputation

Osaka – Japan’s third-largest city – has been historically a key economic engine and the home to several major company headquarters such as Panasonic, Sharp, and Sanyo.

Situated on the coast, Osaka is criss-crossed with canals and bridges forming districts like the one famous tourist and nightlife – Dōtonbori – that offers a vast selection of shopping and food. The city has been a popular venue for international events ever since the 1970 World Expo, the first in Asia.

With Osaka hosting the upcoming World Expo 2025, the government is primed to invest in the region’s development. But how does Osaka perform in terms of economic competitiveness, city brand strength and reputation, according to leading rankings and indices?

Let’s explore:

• Osaka’s competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and global reputation
• Livability: How appealing for talent, visitors, locals?

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 35 ranks Osaka 47^th, between Vancouver (46^th) and Tel Aviv (48^th), placing it in the top 15 urban centres in the Asia/Pacific region.

It is ranked 35th in 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, right between Oslo (34^th) and Dublin (36^th).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

Resonance‘s 2024 World’s Best Cities Report places Osaka 45^th, between Oslo (44^th) and Hong Kong (46^th). It is famous for its food and entertainment culture, resulting in the city ranking 2^nd for Restaurants, in addition to 40^th for Lovability, and 45^th for Prosperity.

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Osaka 52^nd, between Santiago (51^st) and Mumbai (53^rd). Moreover, in Kearney’s Global City Outlook ranking, it makes significant strides among Asian cities, rising 13 positions to currently claim the 28^th spot.

The Global Power City Index ranks Osaka 37^th, between Washington, D.C. (36^th) and Bangkok (38^th). In function-specific rankings, Osaka performs well in Livability (12^th), R&D (18^th), and Cultural Interaction (25^th).

Brand Finance’s City Index 2023 positions it 27^th, between Abu Dhabi (28^th) and Luxembourg (26^th).

Livability: How Attractive to Live and Work?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Osaka 58^th, between Leipzig (59^th) and Washington D.C. (57^th). It is ranked 3^rd in Japan for quality of living. The same firm’s Cost of Living Ranking places the city at 93^rd, between Canberra (94^th) and Lyon (92^nd).

In the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Osaka ranks 44^th, between Zurich (45^th) and Budapest (43^rd). The city ranks highly in Average Rental Cost for a 1-Bedroom Apartment, Migrant Acceptance, and Quality of Coworking Spaces.

In 2024, the Times Higher Education ranking placed Osaka University 175^th, whereas the QS World University ranking positions it 80^th, right between Trinity College Dublin (81^st) and Korea University (79^th).

Last updated in June 2024. More city profiles here

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