Central Asia's Major City Recognized as Superior amongst Peers
Almaty Ranks as the Top City in Central Asia, According to the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2025
Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, has been recognized as the best city in Central Asia in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2025. This annual assessment evaluates cities based on 27 indicators across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.
In the global ranking of 1000 cities, Almaty took the 258th spot. Two other Kazakh cities, Astana and Shymkent, also made it to the list, with Astana ranking second among all Central Asian cities, at the 276th position, and Shymkent at the 534th.
Other cities in Central Asia, including Tashkent, Bishkek, Ashgabat, and Dushanbe, appeared in the ranking as well, with Tashkent at 471st, Bishkek at 498th, Ashgabat at 623rd, and Dushanbe at 683rd.
Notably, New York topped the overall list, and London, Paris, San Jose, and Seattle rounded out the top five. The worst-ranked city was Sokoto, Nigeria.
Last year, American journalists from CNN Travel shared their positive impressions of Almaty, labeling it a growing and developing megacity, and affectionately dubbed it the "capital of cool."
In the globe-trotting world of expats, Almaty ranked at 179th, according to a 2024 report by global consulting firm Mercer, while Astana was slightly lower at 186th, in terms of comfort and livability for foreigners.
Without the specific data from the Index, it remains speculative as to why Almaty excelled in Central Asia. Key factors contributing to a city's high ranking typically include economic strength, human capital, quality of life, environmental performance, and effective governance. The full report from Oxford Economics will provide more in-depth insights into Almaty's performance in these areas.
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Almaty's recognition as the best city in Central Asia by the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2025 extends beyond the realm of economics and governance, showcasing its appeal in terms of home-and-garden lifestyle. The city's continued development and positive impressions from American journalists contribute to strengthening its reputation as a desirable destination for expats, placing it at the 179th spot on Mercer's 2024 report on comfort and livability for foreigners.
