NEW DELHI, September 20, 2026: Indian cities are emerging as major engines of global economic growth, with large metropolitan economies and rapidly expanding urban centres expected to play an increasingly important role in the world economy through 2050, according to the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026.
The index evaluates 1,000 major cities worldwide across five broad categories — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. Oxford Economics says its assessment combines current performance with forward-looking economic forecasts.
The report highlights the growing economic weight of cities in India and China, saying they are expected to be at the forefront of global growth as population scale is combined with gains in productivity and income. Oxford Economics projects that Chinese and Indian cities will account for a larger share of the GDP generated by major global cities by 2050.
Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam among cities gaining prominence
Hyderabad has emerged as one of India's prominent urban economies, with its growth supported by expanding corporate activity, skilled manpower and productivity gains.
The report's broader assessment points to the increasing importance of Indian metropolitan economies as centres of business, technology, education and employment.
Visakhapatnam is also identified among the Indian cities with significant long-term economic potential. Its position reflects the wider expansion of urban economies beyond India's largest metropolitan centres.
Oxford Economics says the growth story is not restricted to megacities. Smaller and emerging urban economies are also benefiting from productivity improvements, expanding labour forces and increasing economic activity.
Delhi's human-capital strength
Delhi's position is supported by its large economic base and human-capital strengths. Oxford Economics' methodology considers the size and quality of a city's talent pool, skills, education and labour-market capacity when assessing human capital.
The report says Indian cities are increasingly benefiting from a combination of demographic scale and productivity growth, factors that could significantly reshape the global urban economic map over the next 25 years.
Bengaluru among ‘Cities to Watch’
Bengaluru features in Oxford Economics' Cities to Watch category for 2026. The city records an overall score of 53.2, with an Economics score of 55.5 and a Human Capital score of 61.8.
Oxford Economics says the Cities to Watch section identifies urban centres showing significant momentum that could translate into improvements in their rankings in the years ahead.
The report also stresses that India's urban growth is increasingly being driven by productivity, rather than simply by population expansion. Fast-growing metropolitan areas are being supported by corporate networks, universities, skilled workers and expanding employment opportunities.
Oxford Economics' long-term forecasts extend to 2050, offering a forward-looking assessment of how urban economies could evolve rather than simply measuring their historical performance.
