All indicators have an equal value, but there is an implicit weight on the GaWC score (see below). My meta-score global city ranking is the average of the normalized indicator values. Emerging mega cities: very large cities in developing countries that are still lagging behind in the scoring due to a smaller GDP (which is growing faster than the world average) as well as smaller geopolitical and economic influence outside their respective home country or region (Mexico City’s or Mumbai’s influence probably is mainly within their country).Traditional Western world cities: cities with a traditionally high political and economic influence and high level of development, but which are much smaller in terms of population (and GDP) compared to the metropolises but also emerging mega cities.

2nd-tier metropolises: cities with a large regional and global influence and with usually a very high GDP (Seoul is home to many large global corporations Shanghai is China’s economic center Singapore is South East Asia’s economic center and gateway to the West Sydney is the economic hub of an entire continent).

1st-tier metropolises: cities that form the center of the world (think of New York’s times square) across the globe.

They are also the only two Alpha++ cities according to the World City Classification by GaWC. What you would expect, New York and London are at the very top. The results are not very surprising, but in my opinion still interesting.

I looked at the top 20 cities as well as a few selected locations based on my personal interest. To satisfy my curiosity I compiled my own global city ranking using a meta-score based on 6 publicly available indices. I find cities a fascinating phenomenon, especially the ranking of what city is the world’s largest, most vibrant, or most global.

Global city competitiveness index