Global Cities Index(GCI) - Kearney
Global Cities Index (GCI) was established by the Chicago-based global management consulting firm Kearney in 2008 to investigate the degree of globalization for major cities around the world. GCI measures how globally engaged cities are across five dimensions : business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and Political engagement. The index seeks to quantify the global connectedness of a city and assess the competitiveness of 156 cities across these five dimensions by considering factors such as the city’s market dynamics, education levels, information access, culture and entertainment options, and presence of international civic organizations.
- Bsiness Activity
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Fortune 500 - - - - Top global services firms - - - - Capital markets 955 (USD billion) 2023 download Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy(MOTIE): Foreign Direct Investment Trend Air freight 3,984,100(tonnes) 2024 download Korea Airports Corporation (KAC): Airlines, airports, and aviation Sea freight 1,551,133,000 (tonnes) 2024 download Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF): Ports (National statistics) ICCA conferences Unicorn Companies - - - - - Human Capital
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Foreign-born population 160,859(persons) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Top universities Population with tertiary degree International student population 6,751(persons) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Number of international schools 7 (schools) 2023 Ministry of Education (MOE) Foreign schools in Incheon Medical Universities 2(schools) 2024 download Website of each university - Informamion Exchange
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Access to TV news News agency bureaus 1(bureaus) 2024 Broadband of expression Freedom of expression 64.06(points / 61) 2025 download Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Press Freedom Index
(National statistics)Online presence - - - - - Cultural Experience
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Museums 31 (sites) 2024 download Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST): Nationwide Cultural Infrastructure Yearbook (2024) Visual and performing arts Sporting events International travelers 717,058(persons) 2023 Culinary offerings - - - - Sister cities 22(cities) 2024 download Incheon Metropolitan City website: Sister cities - Political
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Embassies and consulates Think tanks 3,743(sites) 2023 download Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG): Research institutes International organizations 15 (sites) 2024 Incheon Metropolitan City website: International Organizations Local institutions with global reach - - - - Political conferences - - - -
Global Cities Outlook (GCO) – Kearney
Global Cities Outlook (GCO) is a forward-looking evaluation of how the same cities are creating conditions for their future status as global hubs. (since 2015) This is measured across four dimensions: personal well-being, economics, innovation, and governance. GCO use 13 indicators to evaluate the city’s potential for long-term success, such as healthcare, inequality, ease of doing business, infrastructure development, and investment. The Index seeks to quantify the global connectedness of a city and assess the competitiveness of 156 cities across these five dimensions by considering factors such as the city’s market dynamics, education levels, information access, culture and entertainment options, and presence of international civic organizations.
- Personal Well-being
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Stability and security Healthcare evolution 5,099 (medical institutions) /5,634 (specialists) 2024 download Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA): Healthcare Big Data Hub GINI coefficient index Environmental performance - - - - - Economics
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Infrastructure - - - - GDP per capita 38,840(KRW million) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS): GRDP per capita FDI inflow 692 (USD million) 2024 download Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy(MOTIE): Foreign Direct Investment Trend - Innovation
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Patents per capita Private investments - - - - University- sponsored incubators - Governance
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Quality of bureaucracy - - - - Ease of doing business Transparency 64(points)/ 30nd 2024 download TransparencyInternational(TI):CorruptionPerceptionsIndex(Nationalstatistics)
Global Power City Index (GPCI) – The Mori Memorial Foundation
Global Power Cities Index (GPCI), first published by the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies in 2008. GPCI evaluates and ranks the major cities of the world according to their “magnetism,” or their comprehensive power to attract people, capital, and enterprises from around the world. It does so through measuring 6 functions — Economy, Research and Development, Cultural Interaction, Livability, Environment, and Accessibility — providing a multidimensional ranking.
- Economy
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Nominal GDP 116.82 (KRW trillion) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS): Nominal GDP GDP per capita 38,840(KRW million) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS): GRDP per capita GDP Growth Rate Economic Freedom Stock Market Capitalization 2,303(KRW trillion) 2024 download Publicly listed companies on the Korea Exchange (KRX) stock market and market cap World's Top 500 Companies - - - - Total Employment Approx. 1,696,000(63.5% employment rate) 2024 download Statistics Korea: Economically active population by region (city/province) Employees in Business Support Services 228,000 (persons) 2023 download Statistics Korea: Workers by industry Wage Level Availability of Skilled Human Resources Variety of Workplace Options - Corporate Tax Rate - - - - Political, Economic and Business Risk - - - - - Research & development
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Number of Researchers 22,179(persons) 2023 Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG): Research institutes World's Top Universities 2(schools) 2025 download Times Higher Education (THE): World University Rankings 2025 Research and Development Expenditure 3,603(KRW trillion) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Number of International Students 6,751(persons) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Academic Performance - - - - Number of Patents Winners of Prizes in Science and Technology - - - - Number of startups 12,740 2024 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) - Culture & Interaction
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Number of International Conferences Number of Cultural Events Cultural Content Export Value Art Market Environment Tourist Attractions Proximity to World Heritage Sites 1(Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites) 2024 Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA): UNESCO World Heritage Sites Nightlife Options Number of theaters Number of Museums 31 (sites) 2024 download Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST): Nationwide Cultural Infrastructure Yearbook (2024) Number of Stadiums Number of Hotel Rooms Number of Luxury Hotel Rooms Attractiveness of Shopping Options Attractiveness of Dining Options Number of Foreign Residents 160,859(persons) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Number of Foreign Visitors 717,058(persons) 2023 - Livability
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Total Unemployment Rate 2.7(%) 2025 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Total Working Hours Workstyle Flexibility - - - - Housing Rent Price Level 114.79 2024 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Number of Murders Economic Risk of Natural Disaster 10.59 (USD billion) 2025 download Lloyd’s: City Risk Index Life Expectancy 83.1 (years) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Social Freedom and E .quality Risk to Mental Health 28.8(persons per 100,000) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Number of Medical Doctors 5,661(persons) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) ICT Readiness 74.85 (5th) 2024 download Network Readiness Index (2024)
National StatisticsNumber of Retail shops - - - - Number of Restaurants - - - - - Environment
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Commitment to Climate Action Renewable Energy Rate Waste Recycle Rate 86.9(%) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) CO2 Emissions per Capita Air Quality 19 (μg/m3) Dec. 2024 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS)
PM2.5 concentration in IncheonComfort Level of Temperature 14.2 (°C) 2024 download Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA): Weather
average annual temperatureWater Quality 71.43 (high) Mar. 2025 - NUMBEO_Water Quality Urban Greenery 50 (Moderate) Mar. 2025 - NUMBEO_Quality of Green and Parks Sattisfaction with Urban Cleanliness - Accessibility
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Cities with Direct International Flights 164 (city) 2023 - Incheon International International Freight Flows 1,310,962,887 (ton) 2022 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Number of Air Passengers 71,156,947 (persons) 2024 download Incheon International Number of Arrivals and Departures at Airports 413,200 (flights) 2024 download Incheon International Station Density Public Transportation Use Travel Time to Airports Commuting Time Traffic Congestion Ease of Mobility by Taxi or Bicycle 1,078.38(Km) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS)
Quality of Living Index - Mercer
Announced annually every March by the multinational consulting company Mercer, the Quality of Life rankings is based on a comparison and analysis of 39 items in 10 sectors and includes 231 cities. (since 1997) (Political/Social Environment, Economic Environment, Sociocultural Environment, Medical Service/Health/Hygiene, Educational Environment, Public Service/Transportation, Provision of Respite, Consumables, Residential Environment, and Natural Environment)
- Political and social environment
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Relationship with other countries - - - - Internal stability - - - - Crime - - - - Law enforcement - - - - Ease of entry and exit - - - - - Economic environment
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Currency Exchange regulations - - - - Banking services - - - - - Socio-cultural environment
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Limitations on personal freedom - - - - Media and censorship - - - - - Medical and health considerations
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Hospital services 5,028 (specialists) / 5,172 (medical institutions) 2025 download Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service Medical supplies Infectious diseases - - - - Water potability Waste removal 100(%) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Sewage 97.6 (%) 2023 download MinistryofEnvironmentEnvironmentalStatisticsPortal Air pollution 19 (μg/m3) Dec. 2024 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS)
PM2.5 concentration in IncheonTroublesome and destructive animals and insects - - - - - Schools and education
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Schools 978 (schools) 2024 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS)
Domestic schools in Incheon7(schools) 2024 - Ministry of Education (MOE)
Foreign schools in Incheon - Public services and transport
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Electricity - - - - Water availability 99.1(%) 2023 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS) Telephone 74.85(5th) 2024 download Network Readiness Index (2024)
National StatisticsMail - - - - Public transport Traffic congestion Airport 164(city) 2023 - Incheon International 71,156,947(persons) 2024 download Incheon International 413,200(flights) 2024 download Incheon International - Recreation
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Variety of restaurants - - - - Theatrical and musical performances Cinemas Sports and leisure activities - Consumer goods
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Food (meat and fish) - - - - Food (Fruit and Vegetables) - - - - Daily consumption items - - - - Alcoholic beverages - - - - Automobile - - - - - Housing
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Housing - - - - Household appliances and furniture - - - - Household maintenance and repair - - - - - Natural environment
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Climate - - - - Record of natural disasters - - - -
Global Liveability index - EIU
Announced by EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit), which is affiliated with the British weekly Economist, the Livability rankings are determined by examining 30 indices in 5 sectors(Stability, Healthcare, Culture & Environment, Education, and Infrastructure), and include 140 cities.
- Political and social environment
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Prevalence of petty crime - - - - Prevalence of violent crime - - - - Threat of military conflict - - - - Threat of civil unrest/conflict - - - - Threat of terrorism - - - - - Healthcare
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Availability of private healthcare - - - - Quality of private healthcare provision - - - - Availability of public healthcare - - - - Quality of public healthcare provision - - - - Availability of over the counter drugs General healthcare indicators 5,028 (specialists) / 5,172 (medical institutions) 2025 download Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service - Culture & Environment
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Climate: Humidity/ Temperature rating 14.2(°C) 2024 download Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA): Weather
average annual temperatureClimate: Discomfort to travellers - - - - Cultural hardship: Corruption Cultural hardship: Social/Religious restrictions - - - - Cultural hardship: Level of censorship 64.06 (points / 61) 2025 download Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Press Freedom Index
(National statistics)Recreation: Sports 3,785(site) 2023 download Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Recreation: Culture - - - - Recreation: Food and drink - - - - Availability of consumer goods and services - - - - - Education
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Availability of private education - - - - Quality of private education provision - - - - General public education indicators 978(schools) 2024 download Statistics Korea (KOSIS)
Domestic schools in Incheon7(schools) 2024 - Ministry of Education (MOE)
Foreign schools in Incheon - Infrastructure
Indicator Statistics Year of Date Information Source / Note Transport: Quality of road network - - - - Transport: Quality of public transport Transport: Quality of regional or international links - - - - Availability of good quality housing - - - - Utilities: Quality of water provision 99.1 (%) 2023 Ministryof Environment Environmental Statistics Portal Utilities: Quality of telecommunications infrastructure score 74.85 (rank 5) 2024 download Network Readiness Index2024: PORTULANSINSTITUTE Utilities: Quality of energy provision - - - -