Rio de Janeiro – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s vibrant cultural metropole, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and international appeal – one of Brazil’s most iconic cities. As a significant economic and tourism hub, Rio balances strong global visibility with economic and governance challenges.

But what do international rankings and indices have to say about Rio de Janeiro in terms of its economic performance, sustainability, city brand strength, and reputation?

Overview of Rio de Janeiro’s Performance & Potential

The following table offers an overview of Rio de Janeiro’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.

Soft Power and Brand Strength

Rio de Janeiro enjoys significant global recognition, ranking 64 out of 100 in the Brand Finance Global City Index 2024.

In the Resonance World’s Best Cities 2025, Rio ranks 100, dropping 37 places from the previous year to the bottom of the ranking. These rankings reflects a once strong brand but also indicate the need to invest enhancing its international standing.

Appeal to Investors and Business

Rio de Janeiro maintains a competitive position as a financial hub in Latin America. It ranks 90 out of 121 in the Global Financial Centres Index 36, gaining four places. The city’s fintech sector is also developing, ranking 91 in the fintech category, a five-place improvement.

In the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2024, Rio ranks 356 overall, with an economic ranking of 341st, a human capital ranking of 153, and a governance ranking of 569. However, quality of life remains a challenge at 628, while the environment ranking stands at 317.

Within global city competitiveness, Rio ranks 76 in the 2023 Global Cities Index, improving by two places, while its Global Cities Outlook position has risen to 133, reflecting a moderate long-term trajectory. In the 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index, Rio ranks 107, though it has slipped by two places.

The city also ranks 139 in the IMD Smart Cities Index 2024, showing a slight decline of three places.

Appeal to Talent

Rio de Janeiro’s higher education institutions contribute to the city’s academic environment, attracting both local and international students. The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) are both ranked within the 601–800 bracket in the Times Higher Education 2025 University Rankings.

In the The QS World University ranking, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is ranked 304 overall and the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro is placed in the 611–620 bracket.

Rio de Janeiro offers a dynamic environment for professionals and students, though challenges in quality of life persist. In the Mercer Quality of Living Ranking 2024, the city is ranked 114, marking a slight improvement of one place. However, cost-of-living remains an important factor, as Rio is positioned at 150 in the Mercer Cost of Living Ranking 2024, rising by 21 places from the previous year.

The Numbeo Quality of Life Index ranks Rio at 190, while the Numbeo Cost of Living Index places it at 255, indicating affordability but also highlighting concerns regarding infrastructure and safety.

Urban Sustainability

Rio de Janeiro has shown commitment to sustainability, ranking 89 in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024. While it has declined by two places, its performance across different sustainability dimensions is notable: People (92), Planet (64), Profit (90), and Progress (60).

Additionally, Rio ranks 134 in the IESE Cities in Motion Index 2024, demonstrating strengths in governance (98) and international profile (75) but facing challenges in social cohesion (172) and mobility and transportation (150).

This graph illustrates how Rio de Janeiro performs across rankings that are most relevant regarding urban sustainability and liveability – two factors that are especially important for attracting and retaining skilled workers and residents, and for securing the future potential of the city.

Our Key Takeaways

Rio de Janeiro continues to be one of Latin America’s most globally recognised cities, benefiting from its cultural and tourism appeal. While its financial and fintech sectors are showing improvements, ongoing challenges in governance, quality of life, and innovation remain key areas for development. Strengthening its sustainability efforts and economic infrastructure could further enhance its global standing.

• Strengths: Strong cultural and tourism appeal, improving financial centre ranking, significant global recognition.
• Weaknesses: Challenges in governance, declining innovation ranking, moderate quality of life combined with rising cost of living ratings.
• Opportunities: Growth in fintech and financial services, expanding sustainability initiatives, leveraging global reputation for investment.
• Threats: Economic fluctuations, infrastructure limitations, social cohesion concerns.

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

Did you know? Our custom reports offer in-depth insights into rankings, brand performance, and perceptions—helping decision-makers strengthen the reputation and identity of their cities, regions, or countries. Designed for place branding leaders, they combine expert analysis with tailored recommendations to drive real impact.

📊 Want to see an example? Contact us today!

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