Hyderabad: Often regarded as one of India’s leading cities in terms of quality of life, Hyderabad has fallen behind its metropolitan peers in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026, ranking 421st among 1,000 cities worldwide and trailing Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chennai.The rankings paint a mixed picture of Hyderabad, with its economic strength and human capital contrasting sharply with its performance in quality of life and the environment. The city ranked 248th in economics and 241st in human capital, but slipped to 818th in quality of life and 657th in the environment category.Growth without liveability?Hyderabad’s economics ranking reflects factors such as the size of its economy, growth prospects, GDP per capita, employment growth and economic diversity. Its performance in human capital, which considers aspects of a city’s talent and educational base, also highlights the advantages of its universities, skilled workforce and corporate ecosystem.However, these strengths have not translated into a strong quality-of-life ranking. At 818th, Hyderabad stood marginally behind Mumbai, which ranked 817th.The quality-of-life category assessed indicators including income inequality, income per capita, household spending on housing and utilities, health, crime rates and access to recreational and cultural facilities.The ranking comes amid growing concerns over pollution, worsening traffic congestion and poor road conditions in parts of the city. Rising housing costs and pressure on urban infrastructure have also intensified the debate over whether the city’s rapid expansion is keeping pace with residents’ needs.Environment remains challengeHyderabad ranked 657th in the environment category, ahead of Mumbai (782nd) and Delhi (915th), but behind Bengaluru (528th). The category assessed air quality, emissions intensity and exposure to natural hazards.Urban planners say the city needs to complement its economic growth with sustained investment in infrastructure, public transport and environmental management.“Strengthening public transport, improving road conditions, reducing vehicle dependence and addressing air pollution will be essential if Hyderabad is to convert its economic and human capital advantages into a better quality of life,” said a senior urban planner in Hyderabad.The rankings underline the challenge before the city: sustaining its economic momentum while making urban life healthier, more affordable and more liveable for its growing population.
