Manila drops to 63rd in Smart City Index out of 73

Manila has dropped to 63rd place out of 73 cities in the 2025 Smart City Index by International Society for Urban Informatics (ISUI), marking a significant decline from its previous ranking of 44th.

Among key Asia-Pacific cities, Tokyo ranked fifth and Hong Kong eighth, while Manila fell behind Kuala Lumpur at 46th place.

The index evaluates smart cities based on factors such as citizen well-being, economic development, digital infrastructure, mobility, safety, and access to urban services.

John Paolo R. Rivera from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies highlighted the need for more investment in inclusive digital infrastructure to improve Manila's ranking.

Nigel Paul C. Villarete of Libra Konsult noted that the country's low ranking reflects a growing digital divide among citizens who have not fully embraced smart technology.

The government and local organizations emphasize the importance of policies centered on improving citizen well-being and quality of life for achieving inclusive smart cities.