A detailed study on the attractiveness of cities for investment has ranked Brussels 34 out of 1000 globally, up from 45th place in 2024. The city also scores higher on quality of life compared to London.
The index, by global economic advisory firm Oxford Economics, notes that Brussels is "an impressively global city given its size". Antwerp and Ghent were the only other Belgian cities to make the index, coming in at 75 and 76 respectively.
The report, which considers a range of social, economic, and environmental indicators, notes the strengths of Brussels including its stable economic growth, highly educated professionals from across the world, and a vibrant cultural life.
However, the report picks up on challenges for the city, noting it has "one of the highest crime rates across Western Europe", and high levels of air pollution. It suggests these high pollution levels are the result of "generous tax breaks for company cars."
The report also highlights Brussels' two-speed labour market which results in high income inequality and high unemployment for those outside the "Brussels bubble".
The fact that Brussels still has no government almost a year after elections, is picked up by the report which says that it is "likely to continue suffering from deficiencies relating to its patchy governance structure."
The top city in the report was New York which was praised for its economic strength as a hub for "finance, tech, advertising, and media". London was second, highlighted for its pool of world-class talent and higher education institutions. Paris, which climbed 3 places compared to 2024, came in third place and was praised for its high quality of life compared to other large cities.
