Global Cities Index 2025: How Central Asian capitals compare

The ranking is based on five key categories: economy, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.

Out of the 1,000 best cities in the world, Almaty ranked 258th overall. It performed especially well in the human capital category, securing 64th place globally. This makes Almaty the top-ranked city in Central Asia.

Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, was ranked 471st overall. Its category rankings are as follows:

• Economy: 558th
• Human Capital: 123rd
• Quality of Life: 565th
• Environment: 872nd
• Governance: 840th

Among Central Asian cities, Tashkent ranks third overall.

Globally, New York City was named the best city in the world, followed by London and Paris in second and third places respectively.

Top Central Asian cities in the Global Cities Index 2025:

1. Almaty – 258th globally
2. Astana – 276th
3. Tashkent – 471st
4. Bishkek – 498th
5. Shymkent – 534th
6. Ashgabat – 623rd
7. Dushanbe – 683rd

Top 10 cities in the world:

1. New York City (USA)
2. London (UK)
3. Paris (France)
4. San Jose (USA)
5. Seattle (USA)
6. Melbourne (Australia)
7. Sydney (Australia)
8. Boston (USA)
9. Tokyo (Japan)
10. San Francisco (USA)