Davao City ranked third among the largest cities in the Philippines, and 470th globally based on the recently released Oxford Economics’ 2026 Global Cities Index, which covers the 1000 largest cities in the world across five dimensions: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.
Oxford Economics is a leading independent economic advisory firm, while its global cities index records the progress cities are making across a comprehensive range of metrics.
The research firm measured economic aspect based on economic size, structure, and growth of each city; human capital based on the city’s educational and business environments concurrent with demographic trends; quality of life based on the benefits of living in the city and the well-being of its residents; environment based on the status of the natural environment of the city on issues related to climate change; and governance which measures the city’s political stability and the degree to which the rights of its residents are protected.
The City ranked 470th in the Global rankings, with an overall score of 42.6. Its category ratings include 41.3 for economics, 40.1 in human capital, 48.3 for quality of life, 71.6 for environment, and 52.9 in governance—showing significant growth in terms of environment.
Among the cities in the Philippines that made it to the Top 1000 cities are Manila which ranked 174th and first in the country; Angeles City at 388th globally and second in the Philippines; Cebu at 474th and fourth in the country; and Bacolod at 504th and fifth in the country.
Davao City’s ranking among the top cities in the Philippines and the world, and significant improvement in terms of its environmental aspect is a testament of the city government’s consistent thrust to creating programs and projects aimed at inclusive development focused not only on economic growth but also at the improvement and protection of the environment, the community, and of every Dabawenyo that contributed to its sustainable growth. CIO
Written by: J. Villaluz
Edited by: A. Nawal