Oxford Economics’ 2026 index finds Indian cities lagging in quality of life: none of the country’s top 10 overall cities ranks in the global top 500. Check the top cities in the world.
India's top cities are among the world's worst performers on quality of life. Several rank below 775 in Oxford Economics' Global Cities Index 2026, covering 1,000 cities. Their stronger economic and human capital results help lift overall rankings. Meanwhile, if you are curious to know about the ‘best cities’ in the world, here they are.
Globally, Canberra, Australia, ranks highest in quality-of-life rankings. Bergen in Norway takes second place, followed by Singapore in third.
Other top cities in this category include Grenoble (France), Bern (Switzerland) and Oslo (Norway). Luxembourg City (Luxembourg), Dresden (Germany), Ghent (Belgium) and Paris (France) complete the Top 10 list.
Their leading positions stand in contrast to the weaker results of India's highest-ranked cities. None of India's Top 10 overall cities ranked in the top 500 for quality of life.
While Singapore leads in the South Asia region, the second-ranked Kuala Lumpur stands way down on the list at 283. The third spot in South Asia goes to Malacca, Malaysia, which ranks 321st globally.
Other top cities in this region include Haiphong (Vietnam), Kuching (Malaysia), Bangkok (Thailand), Georgetown (Malaysia) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).
New York leads the overall global rankings, followed by London and Paris. New York also ranks first in economics. Los Angeles ranks second in that category while San Jose came third. All three economic leaders are cities in the United States.
London tops the human capital rankings. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates comes second, followed by Tokyo in Japan. Environmental rankings have another set of leaders. Honolulu, United States, ranks first, followed by Fortaleza, Brazil. Bergen secures third place, alongside its second position in quality of life.
In governance, Denmark's Copenhagen and Aarhus share the first place. Auckland in New Zealand ranks third.
The different leaders across categories underline the varied strengths of cities. India's results similarly show that stronger overall positions do not guarantee better quality of life.
Top Indian cities
Only 91 Indian cities featured in the index. Delhi leads India's overall rankings at 268, followed by Bengaluru at 311. Mumbai ranks 330 while Chennai stands at 381.
Hyderabad and Pune followed at 421 and 427, respectively. Thrissur, Kochi, Kolkata and Kozhikode complete India's Top 10. Delhi's quality-of-life rank is 781, despite ranking 13th in human capital. Its economic rank is 116, the strongest among India's top cities.
However, Delhi ranks 915th in environment, the weakest within this Indian group. These positions show how overall rankings can conceal weaknesses in particular areas.
About the Author
Sounak Mukhopadhyay
Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.