On December 18, 2025, the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies in Japan released the latest annual Global Power City Index (GPCI) on Wednesday, December 17. Tokyo has climbed to second place in overall attractiveness among 48 major cities worldwide, surpassing New York City for the first time since 2016. Meanwhile, London has maintained its top spot for the 14th consecutive year.
The GPCI, introduced in 2008, is considered an important international indicator for measuring a city’s attractiveness to talents, businesses, and investment globally. This index is designed based on the concept of “urban magnetism,” evaluating 72 indicators across six major areas: economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment, and accessibility.
This year’s rankings show that although London has slightly decreased in livability and environmental categories, its strong performance in cultural exchange and its status as an international aviation hub have helped it secure the top position. Tokyo, after several years of increasing scores, has finally surpassed New York to claim the second spot on the list. Paris ranks fourth with a growth in points, narrowing the gap with New York. Singapore maintains its fifth position, while Seoul is in sixth place and quickly closing in.
The research team noted that Tokyo has shown remarkable performance this year, ranking first in livability and second in cultural interaction globally. Analysis suggests that the weakening of the Japanese yen has led to a significant increase in visitors to Tokyo, enhancing its international appeal and contributing to its rise in the overall rankings.
The Mori Memorial Foundation stated that the lineup of the top five global cities has remained relatively stable over the past decade, making Tokyo’s successful displacement of New York this year a rare structural change.
New York experienced the largest drop in scores on the list this year, falling out of the second position for the first time since 2012. The report pointed out its particularly weak performance in terms of livability, with the “price level” ranking last globally, dragging down its overall rating.
The United States has been facing inflation pressure long after the pandemic. According to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area increased by about 3.2% in the 12 months leading up to August 2025, while core inflation (excluding food and energy) rose by approximately 3.0%, indicating a continuous rise in living costs with a significant impact on the city’s attractiveness.
However, New York still maintains its global lead in the economic and research and development sectors, especially in indicators such as market capitalization and research expenditure, surpassing other international cities.
In addition to Tokyo, several cities in Japan have significantly improved their rankings. The country’s overall ranking has jumped from 35th place last year to 18th place, marking the most significant advancement this year.
The report highlights Osaka’s significant improvement in cultural interaction, with various indicators such as foreign visitors, cultural activities, and international conferences showing an increase, leading to a notable rise in the overall ranking.
The southwestern Japanese city of Fukuoka ranks 40th, demonstrating relatively stable performance despite not making drastic advancements like other Japanese cities.