Oslo – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Oslo, Norway’s capital city, has joined the conversation of Northern European cultural hotspots from food to art to fashion. The metropolis boasts the Munch Museum, Oslo Public Library, and the Climate House in the Botanical Gardens, among other landmarks. Perceived as a green city, how does Oslo perform in leading rankings and indices on environmental sustainability, innovation, economic strength, and city brand influence?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and global reputation
• How appealing for talent, visitors, locals?

Economic Competitiveness

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Oslo 42^nd globally, dropping nine positions from the previous ranking. It is currently between Calgary (41^st) and Osaka (43^rd). Within Western Europe, it holds the 14^th place.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Oslo ranks 34^th, a drop of nine positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits in between Philadelphia (33^rd) and Osaka (35^th).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Oslo ranks 45^th globally, comparable with Rotterdam (44^th) and Auckland, New Zealand (46^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Oslo 44^th, scoring 6^th in Labour Force Participation, and 8^th in Biking. It currently sits between Austin (43^rd) and Osaka (45^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Oslo 49^th, jumping four positions compared to last year’s publication. It ranks 20^th in the same firm’s Global Cities Outlook, a jump of eight positions since the previous ranking.

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

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Oslo 24^th, sitting in between Calgary (23^rd) and Hamburg (25^th). Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking puts Oslo 60^th, behind Rome (59^th) and Houston (61^st).

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Oslo ranks 49^th out of 56 global cities. It currently sits between Paris (48^th) and Athens (50^th).

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Oslo a noteworthy 1^st overall. Its pillar rankings are: Planet 1^st, People 17^th, and Profit 39^th. The city’s strengths are sustainable transport, green spaces, low air pollution, and energy use, while greenhouse gas emissions still require some attention.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city benchmarking insights, profiles, and reports in our City Observatory.

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