Three Canadian cities have been included in the 2026 Smart City Index published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), ranking among 148 cities worldwide. The Canadian cities on the list are Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
The index evaluates cities based on several factors, including technology, infrastructure, quality of life, economic strength and inclusion, while also taking residents’ views on local services and living conditions into account.
Toronto Ranks 48th
Toronto ranked 48th globally, up from 63rd last year, and received an overall rating of BBB.
The city performed strongly in technology and digital services, particularly online government services and internet connectivity.
However, housing affordability remained the biggest concern among residents. It was identified by 83.1% of respondents as one of the city’s top challenges, followed by road congestion at 55.6% and healthcare services at 53.2%.
Vancouver Ranks 58th
Vancouver ranked 58th globally, down from 53rd last year, and received a BBB rating in both technology and infrastructure.
Housing affordability was the top concern among residents, cited by 85.4% of respondents, followed by healthcare at 66.7% and road congestion at 58.5%.
Residents gave positive assessments to several digital services, including online ticket purchases, medical appointment bookings and online job searches.
Montreal Ranks 86th
Montreal ranked 86th globally and received an overall rating of BB, including B for technology and BB for infrastructure.
Residents highlighted some digital services and opportunities for lifelong learning as strengths. However, housing affordability, healthcare and traffic congestion remained among the city’s main challenges.
Zurich Tops the Global Ranking
Zurich, Switzerland, topped the 2026 ranking of the world’s smartest cities, followed by Oslo and Geneva.
London ranked fourth and Copenhagen fifth. The top 10 also included Dubai, Lausanne, Canberra, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
The ranking shows that Canadian cities continue to perform well in technology and digital services, but housing affordability, healthcare and traffic congestion remain major challenges for residents.
