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The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) have presented the Smart City Index 2023, a global ranking which assesses 141 smart cities.
This study classifies the cities with respect to the perception which the citizens have about how technology can improve their lives. 20,000 citizens were surveyed about various different aspects of life in their cities: health and safety, mobility, activities, employment and education opportunities and governance.
This year’s study reflects the real-life experience of citizens thanks to data which has been extracted directly from the Human Development Index (HDI) of the Global Data Lab. This index measures life expectancy, forecasted years of schooling, and the average number of years of completed education, together with the income per capita of the inhabitants of each city.
Bilbao is in 27th place, but it continues to maintain as it did in the previous edition a good perception in indicators related with mobility, with a satisfactory public transport system and the use of bicycles to reduce traffic congestion in the city. In terms of health and safety, the basic sanitation services satisfy the needs of the poorest areas, and with respect to the activities indicator, both the green spaces and the cultural activities on offer are satisfactory. Furthermore, online purchasing for shows and museums to enhance attendance is given a positive assessment regarding level of technology. It should be noted that at the state level Bilbao is ahead of Madrid (37th), Zaragoza (54th) and Barcelona (75th) in the ranking.
The top 10 in the ranking
Asian and European cities feature in the top 20 places of the 141 cities assessed. In terms of the Top Ten, Zurich comes first, followed by Oslo, Canberra, Copenhagen, Lausanne, London, Singapore, Helsinki, Geneva and Stockholm.
