Vancouver – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Vancouver, a leading coastal seaport in western Canada, is one of the most diverse cities in North America. A popular tourist destination and place to live, it is well-known for its scenery, climate, and friendly people. With a thriving economy, including its animation and film industry, it has also hosted a variety of international events, such as the 2010 Winter Olympics.

But how does Vancouver perform in international rankings that measure the global power, business attractiveness and sustainability of cities, and their reputation?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Vancouver’s competitiveness and financial performance
• Its brand strength and global attractiveness
• Livability: how appealing as a place to live, work, and study?

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Vancouver 37^th, dropping five positions from the previous ranking. It currently holds the 27^th position for FinTech, a jump of seven positions.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Vancouver ranks 29^th, an impressive jump of 107 positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits between Beijing (28^th) and Copenhagen (30^th).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Vancouver ranks 25^th globally, right next to Vienna (24^th) and Luxembourg City (26^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Vancouver 50^th overall, with Place Power highlights including 19^th in Universities and 31^st in Biking. It currently sits between Frankfurt (49^th) and San Diego (51^st).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Vancouver 38^th, falling one position compared to last year’s publication. Vancouver ranks 40^th in the same firm’s Global Cities Outlook study, a jump of 6 positions from the previous ranking.

The Global Power City Index ranks Vancouver 32^nd. In terms of function-specific rankings, it fares 21^st in Economy, 27^th in R&D, 39^th in Cultural Interaction, 28^th in Livability, 10^th in Environment, and 28^th in Accessibility. Admirably, the city ranks 10^th in Urban Greenery.

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

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Vancouver a strong 8^th, sitting between Munich (7^th) and Sydney (9^th). The same company’s Cost of Living Ranking ranks Vancouver 116^th, a drop of eight positions from the previous ranking—on par with Yokohama (115^th) and Lisbon (117^th).

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Vancouver ranks 15^th out of 56 global cities, comparable in rank with Lyon (14^th) and Toronto (16^th).

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks the Canadian city 17^th overall, sitting between Frankfurt (16^th) and Edinburgh (18^th). Its specific sustainability pillar rankings are: Planet 26^th, People 13^th, and Profit 30^th.

Lastly, Vancouver is home to one of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education Ranking, the University of British Columbia (UBC) ranks 41^st. The QS World University Ranking positions UBC in 34^th place.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles in our City Observatory.

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