London has again claimed the top spot in the World’s Best Cities rankings, marking an unprecedented 10-year streak. Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai, however, fell short of making it into the top 100.

The annual rankings, released by Resonance Consultancy in partnership with Ipsos, analyze the world’s largest urban areas based on factors critical to attracting workforce, visitors, and business.

 

Criteria for Rankings?

The rankings are shaped by a comprehensive evaluation of cities through three primary dimensions:

  • Livability: Examining the quality of natural and built environments.

  • Lovability: Measuring cultural richness, dining, and nightlife offerings.

  • Prosperity: Evaluating human capital and infrastructure that foster growth.

The goal is to combine perception-based insights with functional metrics to assess how cities are viewed globally and perform locally. This year’s results were based on a survey of over 22,000 people across 31 countries.

 

What sets London apart?

“London continues to set the bar for what a truly great city should be," said Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, the UK capital’s growth agency.

She added, “Our iconic attractions, world-class financial sector, and fast-growing tech industry are proof of our city’s strength. But the diversity of our people and ideas drives the innovation, opportunities, and progress that shape our future. No city embodies this quite like London." 

 

Top 10 Cities in the 2025 Rankings

1. London (UK)

2. New York (US)

3. Paris (France)

4. Tokyo (Japan)

5. Singapore

6. Rome (Italy)

7. Madrid (Spain)

8. Barcelona (Spain)

9. Berlin (Germany)

10. Sydney (Australia)

The United States dominates the list, with over 36 cities in the top 100, followed by Canada with six.

Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro are new entries in the 2025 rankings.

 

Indian Cities Performance

Chris Fair, President & CEO of Resonance Consultancy, explained why Mumbai and Delhi fell short of the global top 100 rankings:

‘They are just outside the top 100. In the Asia-Pacific context, they rank among the top cities but, on a global scale, face challenges from a livability perspective,’ Fair said.

Despite these setbacks, both cities remain strong contenders in the Asia-Pacific region, featuring in the top 20 of the February 2025 regional rankings.

 

The report highlights the aspirations of people worldwide to live, visit, or work in leading cities. The rankings reflect a city’s ability to attract prime-age populations (25–44), visitor spending, and new business activity, underscoring the factors that define a world-class urban hub.