Manila continues to slip in the global Smart City Index, dropping to 125th place out of 146 cities ranked in the 2025 edition released by Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD). This marks a continued decline for the Philippine capital, which placed 121st in 2024, 115th in 2023, and 95th back in 2020.
The IMD Smart City Index evaluates cities based on residents’ perceptions of infrastructure and technology, focusing on both economic-technical factors and quality of life elements such as inclusivity, environment, and governance. Manila received a “C” rating in both infrastructure and technology categories.
Surveyed residents in Manila identified the most urgent urban issues as corruption and transparency (61.2%), health services (52.1%), traffic congestion (46%), unemployment (44.8%), and air pollution (42.8%).
Topping the global rankings were Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland, Oslo in Norway, and the UAE cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, cities like Rio de Janeiro, Sana’a, and Guatemala City landed at the bottom.
