Oslo 2nd on the IMD Smart City Index 2025

Barcode Sporveien

Published by Oslo Business Region, 24 April 2025

IMD produces a yearly Smart City Index offering a balanced focus on economic and technological aspects of smart cities on the one hand, and “humane dimensions” of smart cities (quality of life, environment, and inclusiveness) on the other. This reputable ranking of 146 cities reinforces Oslo's effort to integrate technology and sustainability to improve city living.

The top 10 cities on the ranking:

  • Zurich
  • Oslo
  • Geneva
  • Dubai
  • Abu Dhabi
  • London
  • Copenhagen
  • Canberra
  • Singapore
  • Lausanne

Oslo's rankings:

  • Smart City ranking: AAA
  • Structures Factor rating: AAA
  • Technologies Factor rating: AAA

How do they end up with the "smartest" city?

  • The IMD Smart City Index 2025 assesses the perceptions of residents on issues related to structures and technology applications available to them in their city.
  • This edition of the SCI ranks 146 cities worldwide by capturing the perceptions of some 100 residents in each city. The final score for each city is computed by using the perceptions of the last three years of the survey, with the weight of 3:2:1 for 2025:2024:2023.
  • There are two pillars for which perceptions from residents are solicited: the Structures pillar, referring to the existing infrastructure of the cities, and the Technology pillar, describing the technological provisions and services available to the inhabitants.
  • Each pillar is evaluated over five key areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance.
  • The cities are distributed into four groups based on the Subnational Global Data Lab’s Human Development Index (SHDI) score of the city they are part of.
  • Within each HDI group, cities are assigned a ‘rating scale’ (AAA to D) based on the perceptions-score of a given city compared to the scores of all other cities within the same group. For group 1 (highest HDI quartile), scale AAA–AA–A–BBB– BB. For group 2 (second HDI quartile), scale A–BBB– BB–B– CCC. For group 3 (third HDI quartile), scale BB–B– CCC–CC–C. For group 4 (lowest HDI quartile), scale CCC–CC–C–D.
  • Rankings are then presented in two formats:
    • an overall ranking (1 to 146)
    • a rating for each pillar and overall.