Davao City climbed 49 places higher in the latest Oxford Economics Global Cities Index, moving to 470th among the 1,000 largest cities in the world and securing the third-highest ranking among Philippine cities.
The city’s latest showing was driven in large part by its performance in the environment category, where it ranked 299th globally with a score of 71.6, its strongest score among the five dimensions measured by the index.
According to the study, Davao City posted an overall score of 42.6 in the 2026 index, with scores of 41.3 for economics, 40.1 for human capital, 48.3 for quality of life, 71.6 for environment, and 52.9 for governance.
The study stated that the latest ranking marks a significant improvement from 2025, when Davao City ranked 519th globally and fifth among Philippine cities.
It moved ahead of Cebu City, which placed 474th globally and fourth in the country.
The 2026 index placed Manila at 174th globally and first among Philippine cities, followed by Angeles City at 388th and Davao City at 470th. Bacolod ranked fifth nationally at 504th.
Oxford Economics, an independent economic advisory firm, evaluates cities across five categories: Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance, to provide what it calls a “holistic assessment” of urban performance.
The index measures economic size, structure and growth potential; talent, skills and labor-force strength; residents’ well-being, livability and access to amenities; environmental quality and sustainability; and institutional strength and civic effectiveness.
Each category is scored from zero to 100 before being combined into an overall score.
Oxford Economics said the index is intended to provide a “data-driven, forward-looking view” of cities’ relative strengths, weaknesses and future potential, rather than simply measuring the size of their economies.
For Davao City, the environmental category emerged as a notable strength. Its 71.6 environment score placed it considerably higher than its scores in economics, human capital and quality of life.
The city’s improvement also comes as Oxford Economics identifies Davao City as an “Emerging Standout,” a classification for developing-world cities that are outperforming their respective countries and attracting residents through faster productivity growth and higher income levels.
The 2026 results also reflect a broader shift in the global urban landscape, with Oxford Economics noting that major Asian cities are increasingly driving global growth trends.
The firm said cities across Asia are expected to continue gaining ground as productivity and incomes rise.
For Davao City, the latest ranking provides a broader measure of the city’s development beyond economic output, highlighting the role of environmental conditions, human capital, quality of life and governance in determining its position among major cities worldwide.
The City Government of Davao attributed the result to its continuing programs and projects aimed at inclusive and sustainable development, particularly those focused on economic growth, environmental protection and community welfare.
The city government of Davao said the ranking, particularly Davao’s environmental performance, reflects its “consistent thrust” toward programs that address not only economic development but also the protection of the environment and the welfare of Dabawenyos.
