This is the only Asian city in global top 20

Japan's capital Tokyo is the only Asian city to rank among the world's 20 highest-performing cities in 2026, placing ninth globally in Oxford Economics's Global Cities Index. Oxford Economics, a major independent economic research and consulting organization based in the U.K., assessed the world's 1,000 largest cities across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.The ranking combines data from the research firm's global forecasts with standardized qualitative datasets to assess cities' current strengths and future potential.Tokyo scored 89.5 out of 100 overall. It earned 69.7 for economics, 92.9 for human capital, 80.1 for quality of life, 66.3 for environment, and 92.3 for governance. Passersby walk on the street at Shinjuku district in Tokyo, in April 2021. Photo by Reuters Oxford Economics described the Japanese capital as a "vital financial center within the global context" and placed it among the top three largest cities in the world in terms of GDP.Tokyo ranked second with a GDP of about $1.5 trillion, after New York ($2.6 trillion), though some independent estimates place its economic output as high as $2 trillion.Los Angeles ranked third with a GDP of approximately $1.4 trillion, supported by major industries including entertainment, technology, and aerospace.According to Oxford Economics, high scores across metrics in the human capital and quality of life categories mean Tokyo "remains a vibrant city of enormous international importance."The area where Tokyo excels most is human capital, where it ranks third in the world.Despite concerns over Japan's aging population, Tokyo maintains one of the world's largest populations and one of the youngest demographic profiles in Japan.The report noted this is largely driven by domestic migration, as people move to the capital for its dense concentration of universities and employment opportunities.The city's highly educated population has also helped attract the headquarters of numerous Japanese and international companies. These businesses benefit from Tokyo's proximity to the national government and key administrative institutions.For the 2026 Global Cities Index, New York retained the top position, followed by London and Paris. Seattle and San Francisco rounded out the top five, while the top 10 also included Dublin, Boston, San Jose, and Zurich. Top 10 cities of the 2026 Global Cities Index. Graphics by Oxford Economics Cities in Europe and North America dominated the upper reaches of the ranking, accounting for 78 of the first 100 places.Oxford Economics stated these strong positions were supported by economic strength, skilled labor pools, high quality of life, environmental performance, and governance.Although Tokyo was the only Asian city in the top 20, several others featured prominently in the list. Singapore ranked 29th, Seoul 38th, Taipei 48th, Kuala Lumpur 65th, and Osaka-Kyoto 83rd.Shanghai, Beijing, and Delhi, however, remained outside the top 100 in the 2026 index.Oxford Economics highlighted Asia's growing importance in the global urban economy, projecting that Chinese and Indian cities will account for some of the world's largest GDP increases through 2050.The research firm identified several Asian hubs among its "Cities to Watch," including Kuala Lumpur, Shenzhen, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bengaluru. This designation reflects their expected economic growth and potential to climb in future rankings.