NYC Tops Oxford Economics 2026 Global Cities Index

New York City claimed the top spot among the 1,000 largest cities in the world in Oxford Economics' 2026 Global Cities Index, according to Becker's Hospital Review. The global economic advisory firm's latest edition was compiled by its cities and regions team, more than 40 economists who specialize in spatial data, urban dynamics and forecasting.

Rankings like these weigh factors such as economic output, human capital, quality of life and governance. For healthcare leaders, a city's standing serves as a proxy for the resources that shape local health systems, including talent pipelines, research funding, infrastructure and patient demand. Cities that rate highly tend to anchor major academic medical centers and attract clinical and technical workers.

The index gives hospital executives and investors a comparative view of where large US metros stand against global peers. That context matters for decisions on where to expand facilities, recruit staff and site new services as competition for skilled workers and capital intensifies across leading urban markets.