Tri-cities among top 1,000 cities in the world, report says

An annual look at the world’s cities, is putting the spotlight on Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo; also known as the tri-cities.

The Oxford Economics Global Cities Index ranks the trio of communities in the 163rd spot, out of 1000.

That is down from 123 in 2024.

The rating looks at cities around the world, providing a “holistic assessment of the 1,000 largest cities in the world.”

New York City took the top spot recognized as “a global hub for finance, tech, advertising, and media.”

London, England and Paris, France came in second and third.

Each city is then rated in five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.

Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo collectively nabbed the highest score in governance (27).

The independent economic advisory firm describes good governance as fostering “trust, social cohesion, and equitable access to opportunities.”

The lowest score for the tri-cities was in economics at 257.

“Trade tensions and deglobalisation are causing considerable headwinds to economic growth worldwide, potentially triggering substantial shifts in supply chains and the way countries do business with each other over the coming years,” read the report.

“In the face of uncertainty, the world’s leading cities have historically demonstrated resilience, making them best placed to navigate current challenges.”

Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo were among a total of 11 Canadian cities on the list, which in Ontario included Ottawa, Hamilton and Toronto.

Toronto was the highest-ranking Canadian city in the 20th spot.