Global Cities Index 2025: Almaty Ranks Highest in Central Asia

Almaty has been recognized as the leading city in Central Asia, according to the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2025.

The city ranked 258th out of 1,000 cities worldwide, making it the highest-ranked city in the region, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

Astana followed as the second-best city in the region, coming in at 276th, while Shymkent ranked 534th globally.

Almaty performed well in the human capital category, securing 64th place worldwide.

Globally, New York, London, and Paris topped the 2025 index.

The Global Cities Index assesses cities in five categories - economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance - using a combination of Oxford Economics’ forecasts and supplementary qualitative data.