Tokyo sole Asian representative in world's top 20 cities ranking

Tokyo's ninth-place finish in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index underscores Japan's capital as the region's most competitive city on the international stage. The annual ranking evaluates metropolitan areas across multiple performance indicators, measuring their economic output, innovation capacity, and global influence.

The Japanese metropolis edges out other major Asian urban centres including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, which failed to secure positions in the top 20. This disparity highlights the varying trajectories of Asia's leading financial hubs amid shifting global economic dynamics and regional competition.

Oxford Economics's Global Cities Index measures performance across dimensions including economic strength, human capital, innovation, and liveability. Tokyo's strong showing reflects its role as a global financial centre, technological innovator, and cultural influencer that continues to attract international investment and talent.

The index's 2026 results suggest that while Asian cities remain economically significant, they face intensifying competition from established metropolitan centres in North America and Europe. For Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations, Tokyo's isolated presence in the top 20 underscores the competitive challenges facing the region's developing urban centres as they work to enhance their global standing.