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<\/div>\nWhether you\u2019re investing, relocating, or simply keeping an eye on the global balance of power, it pays to know which cities are setting the pace.<\/p>\n
London has once again been named the most powerful city in the world in the Global Power City Index<\/a> (GPCI), an annual ranking published by the Mori Memorial Foundation. The index ranks cities based on their overall \u2018magnetism\u2019, defined as their ability to attract people, capital, and enterprises from around the world.<\/p>\n To determine the most powerful cities in the world, researchers analysed 72 indicators across six categories: economy, research and development, cultural interaction, liveability, environment, and accessibility. The report aims to provide a detailed snapshot of how cities are performing year on year, not just in headline economic terms, but in the important, everyday realities that shape people’s lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the data is important for urban policy, it is also just as relevant for investors, businesses, and globally mobile travelers looking to understand where influence is growing, and where it may be slipping.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite losing ground year on year, London<\/a> held onto the top spot for a 14th consecutive year, with an overall score of 1,642.2 out of 2,700.<\/p>\n The city ranked first in cultural interaction, driven by its wealth of museums, theatres, nightlife, hotels, and restaurants.<\/a> It also continued to perform strongly in economy, accessibility, and research and development, reinforcing its role as a global financial and cultural hub.<\/p>\n However, London\u2019s scores in liveability and environment declined sharply, reflecting ongoing pressure from rising costs and sustainability challenges, factors increasingly shaping how cities are judged.<\/p>\n After nine years in third place, Tokyo<\/a> climbed to become the second most powerful city in the world. The rise was driven by a substantial increase in its total score for a second consecutive year, despite a slight decline in its economic ranking.<\/p>\n Tokyo ranked first in livability, underlining its strengths in safety, healthcare, and quality of life. It also reached second place in cultural interaction, with nightlife ranked number one globally \u2014 a sign of the city\u2019s growing appeal beyond business and technology.<\/p>\n [See more: The Most Expensive Ski Resorts in the World, Ranked]<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n New York<\/a> recorded the steepest score decline of any city in the 2025 index, dropping from second to third place as soaring living costs weighed heavily on its livability score.<\/p>\n Even so, the city remains dominant economically. New York held number one rankings in stock market capitalization and research expenditure, firmly maintaining the top position in both the economy and research and development categories.<\/p>\nThe most powerful cities in the world<\/h2>\n
London<\/h3>\n
![\"most-powerful-cities-london\"](\"https:\/\/elitetraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/most-powerful-cities-london-city-2560x1708.jpg\")
Tokyo<\/h3>\n
![\"most-powerful-cities-tokyo\"](\"https:\/\/elitetraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/most-powerful-cities-tokyo-2560x1440.jpg\")
New York<\/h3>\n
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Paris<\/h3>\n
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