Riga Rises 24 Places in the International Smart City Index

Riga has made a significant leap in the International Smart City Index, rising 24 places to secure the 59th position out of 142 cities. The Smart City Index, developed by the World Competitiveness Centre, evaluates cities based on both economic and technological advancements and the “humane dimensions” of smart cities, such as quality of life, environmental factors, and inclusiveness. For the last two years, the ranking has been produced in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO). 

The index is based on data and the views of 120 citizens from each of the 142 cities surveyed worldwide. It assesses how residents perceive the availability of infrastructure and technology in their cities, categorized into two pillars: structures, which focuses on the existing infrastructure, and technology, which evaluates technological services and provisions. These pillars are further analyzed across five key areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance. The cities are grouped according to their Human Development Index (HDI) score, provided by the Global Data Lab. 

In response to Riga’s improved ranking, Inese Andersone, Chair of the City Development Committee of Riga City Council, commented: “Our work on smart cities is bearing fruit, and we are making significant progress in integrating innovative technologies into local governance. This success is rooted in smart municipal management, and with an increasing number of knowledgeable, experienced, and talented individuals joining our team, Riga’s development will only continue to accelerate.” 

The top three cities in the 2024 IMD Smart City Index are Zurich, Oslo, and Canberra. 

See Rīga’s profile in more detail here.