Rankings and indices provide valuable insights into the performance of countries and cities. These tools help us track progress over time and compare different places on various metrics. Below, you’ll find a curated list of rankings, indices, and studies that we reference in our Place Observatory.
Country Brand Rankings and Indices
Global Soft Power Index
Published by: Brand Finance
The Global Soft Power Index by Brand Finance is among the world’s most comprehensive studies on perceptions of national brands, evaluating countries based on their influence and reputation on the global stage. More Information
Anholt Ipsos Nation Brands Index
Published by: Ipsos / Simon Anholt
Measures the image and reputation of nations, tracking their profiles as they rise or fall. Surveys nearly 20,000 people in 20 countries, evaluating 50 countries. More Information
U.S. News Best Countries
Published by: U.S. News & World Report
The overall ranking of Best Countries has measured for eighth years the global performance of 87 nations on a variety of metrics. More Information
Expat Insider
Published by: InterNations
The Expat Insider survey is currently in its 11th edition and is one of the largest of its kind providing insights into the expat experience. It represents 174 countries. More Information
World Investment Report
Published by: UNCTAD
The World Investment Report (WIR) focuses on trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) worldwide, at the regional and country levels and emerging measures to improve its contribution to development. More Information
Country Brand Ranking (Digital, Tourism and Trade)
Published by: Bloom Consulting
Measures the effectiveness of country, city, and region brands in attracting tourism, investment, and talent. More Information
World Competitiveness Ranking
Published by: IMD
It provides benchmarking and exposes trends, using both statistics and real-world survey data. It provides extensive coverage of 67 global economies and is a worldwide reference on the competitiveness of economies in a bid to provide actionable data analysis on economies, regions and sub-regions. More Information
Global Talent Competitiveness Index
Published by: INSEAD
The report is a comprehensive annual benchmarking report that measures how countries and cities grow, attract and retain talent. The latest report covers 134 countries across all income groups. More Information
European Innovation Scoreboard
Published by: European Commission
Provides a comparative assessment of the Research and Innovation performance of EU Member States, other European, and selected third countries. It helps assess the relative strengths and weaknesses national innovation systems and identify challenges that they need to address. More Information
World University Rankings
Published by: The Times Higher Education
Reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting and includes 1,907 universities across 108 countries and regions. More Information
World Giving Index
Published by: Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
This long-running study examines the scope and nature of giving around the world and offers a unique insight into how people engage in social activities for the benefit of their communities. More Information
Good Country Index
Published by: Simon Anholt
Evaluates how countries contribute to global society and the planet. Uses data from U.N. and other international organizations. More Information
Democracy Index
Published by: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
Analyses the relationship between democracy, war and peace and looks at the geopolitical drivers of conflict, while providing explanations for changes in the global rankings and an in-depth regional overview. More Information
Corruption Perception Index
Published by: Transparency International
The index ranks 180 countries and territories around the globe by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. More Information
Environmental Performance Index
Published by: Yale Centre for Environmental Law & Policy
Ranks 180 countries on environmental health and ecosystem vitality across 24 performance indicators. More Information
Sustainable Development Report
Published by: UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Reviews progress made on the Sustainable Development Goals and recommends a set of key reforms to the UN to meet the challenges of the 21st century. More Information
Global Peace Index
Published by: Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)
Ranks countries by their level of peacefulness. More Information
Global Terrorism Index
Published by: Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)
Ranks 163 countries by the impact of terrorism. More Information
World Happiness Report
Published by: WHR Editorial Board
Reflects a worldwide demand for more attention to happiness and well-being as criteria for government policy. More Information
City Brand Rankings and Indices
Brand Finance City Index
Published by: Brand Finance
The Brand Finance City Index ranks cities based on their brand strength and value. The index assesses perceptions of 100 cities worldwide through a survey of over 15,000 respondents across 20 countries. The rankings reflect factors such as business environment, tourism appeal, cultural significance, and quality of life. More Information
Best Cities Ranking
Published by: Resonance Consultancy
Evaluates cities with a population of one million or more across six pillars of place equity: Place, Product, Programming, People, Prosperity, and Promotion. More Information
Global Financial Centres Index
Published by: Z/Yen Partners and China Development Institute
Compares the competitiveness and progress of the world’s leading financial centres. More Information
Innovation Cities Index
Published by: 2thinknow
Measures and ranks the growing urban innovation of city economies. More Information
Global Cities Report
Published by: Kearney
Assesses the extent to which cities are able to attract, retain, and generate global flows of capital, people, and ideas, measuring current and potential future performance. More Information
Global Power City Index
Published by: The Mori Memorial Foundation
Evaluates and ranks the major cities of the world according to their “magnetism,” or their comprehensive power to attract people, capital, and enterprises from around the world. More Information
Anholt – Ipsos City Brands Index
Published by: Anholt and Ipsos
Measures the image and reputation of the world’s cities and tracks their profiles as they rise or fall.
EUI Global Livability Index
Published by: Economist Intelligence Unit
Assesses which locations provide the best or worst living conditions based on over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors. More Information
Mercer Quality of Living Ranking
Published by: Mercer
Annual survey to help multinational companies compensate employees fairly during international assignments. More Information
Mercer Cost of Living Ranking
Published by: Mercer
Provides valuable trends and insights for those who need to make informed decisions about global mobility operations and international assignees. More Information
Cities in Motion Index
Published by: IESE Business School
Identifies what makes a world-class city, from attracting and retaining the best talent to promoting economic development and environmental protections. It ranks cities by how sustainable, livable, and able to weather economic and climate-related shocks. More Information
Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads
Published by: Spotahome
Compares and ranks 56 different cities across the world based on their popularity as a place to live and work for talent such as ‘digital nomads’. More Information
Sustainable Cities Index
Published by: Arcadis
Ranks 100 global cities on three dimensions of sustainability: People, Planet, and Profit. More Information
World University Rankings
Published by: The Times Higher Education
Reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting and includes 1,907 universities across 108 countries and regions. More Information
The QS World University Ranking
Published by: Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)
Assesses and ranks over 1,500 universities across 105 higher education systems. More Information