Each year, the ranking covers around 400 medium-sized and large German cities. Together, the cities included in the ranking represent almost half of Germany's total population, which makes the results highly informative and relevant for the strategic development of municipal smart city transformation.
Based on more than 33,000 data sets per year and a combination of quantitative and qualitative research, the Smart City Ranking determines a so-called Smart City Development Level for each municipality examined. This results in their ranking in comparison to other German smart cities. In addition, the top 10 leading smart cities nationwide are identified. It is striking that not only large cities but also medium-sized cities play an exemplary role here.
In addition to the top 10 smart cities, each year the so-called “emerging cities” are also highlighted – municipalities that have made the greatest progress and leaps in development compared to the previous year. They provide important impetus by actively and purposefully driving forward digital transformation – often without comprehensive funding.
Smart City is not a question of city size – on the contrary. Many small and medium-sized municipalities are continuously driving urban transformation forward and thus also improving their position in the Smart City ranking.
Would you like to know where your city ranks in the smart city ranking? Simply enter the name of your city in the search bar. Move your mouse over the map without clicking to see the details of your city in the overall ranking. All rankings are available exclusively in the web view.
The Haselhorst Associates Smart City Ranking offers much more than just a performance comparison of cities. It considers the concept of the smart city in its entirety, thus providing a sound basis for a wide range of stakeholders—whether from city administration, politics, or the local economy.
The ranking data provides urban stakeholders with a valuable management tool that highlights strengths and weaknesses, supports strategic planning, and facilitates targeted resource planning. At the same time, the ranking creates transparency about progress, promotes inter-municipal exchange, makes successful approaches transferable, and strengthens confidence in the digital transformation.
If you are interested in further information about your smart city and how we can support you based on the smart city ranking, please contact us using the following Contact Form.
Furthermore, the Smart City Ranking delivers added value not only at the municipal level, but also at the state and federal levels. It enables in-depth analyses of overarching developments and correlations – for example, with regard to the impact of support programs or state-specific digital strategies. The ranking thus offers not only cities, but also political decision-makers at the national and regional levels a valuable basis for strategic decisions and the targeted further development of digital transformation in Germany.
We are happy to provide you with the results for your city's various areas of action — from strategy and digital infrastructure to energy and the environment, mobility, buildings and neighborhoods, health, education, administration, tourism, and business and trade. Here you can also find out your city's ranking for this year and its level of smart city development, including a comparison with last year.