The 2025 IMD Smart City Index captures a world in transition, where technology and everyday life increasingly converge. Drawing on resident perceptions from 146 cities, the ranking highlights how urban centers use digital tools and infrastructure to improve health, mobility, governance, and opportunity.
Cities from Oslo to Singapore showcase strengths in quality of life and digital services, while Zurich continues to stand out for its integration of innovation into daily living. Yet across the globe, affordable housing remains a pressing challenge. The index makes clear that being “smart” is not just about technology, but about building cities that are livable and fair for the people who call them home.
Click through the gallery to see how innovation in everyday life is transforming urban futures worldwide.