Dallas moved up two spots to No. 17 in Oxford Economics’ 2026 Global Cities Index. [Image: Adobe Stock]
Bolstered by its strong economic growth, Dallas climbed two spots in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index for 2026.
The closely watched index, which assesses the strengths, weaknesses and potential of the world’s 1,000 largest cities, placed Dallas at No. 17 this year. That’s up from No. 19 in 2025. The index debuted in 2024.
This year, Dallas benefited from a solid showing in the index’s economics category.
No. 6 in the world for economic strength
Oxford Economics, an economic advisory and forecasting firm, evaluates cities based on 27 indicators across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.
Dallas claimed the No. 6 spot in the economics category, its highest ranking among the five categories. Only New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, California, Seattle and San Francisco ranked higher. London ranked No. 7, and Houston ranked No. 10.
“Diversification away from oil production since the 1980s into downstream oil refining and other high-value services sectors means that the city is less beholden to oil booms and busts, and it is now among the most stable economies in the world,” Oxford Economics said in the report.
The firm said Dallas sits at No. 4 among the largest metro economies in the U.S. and at No. 8 in the world. The city’s gross domestic product, or GDP, stood at $845 billion in 2025, Oxford Economics said.
In evaluating Dallas’ economic credentials, Oxford Economics cited the region’s plethora of corporate headquarters. It mentioned Dallas’ success attracting relocations, including AECOM, Caterpillar, Charles Schwab, CBRE and Toyota North America, as well as corporate fixtures like American Airlines, AT&T, Southwest Airlines and Texas Instruments.
Strength in human capital
Thanks to its substantial number of corporate headquarters and well-regarded universities, Dallas grabbed the No. 21 ranking in the index’s human capital category.
However, Oxford Economics said a relatively weak demographic profile in Dallas compared to its peers — with a rising share of the population approaching retirement age — helped drag down the city’s human capital score. So, too, did a comparatively low rate of educational attainment.
Dallas landed at No. 198 in the governance category, No. 275 in the quality-of-life category and No. 378 in the environment category.
Oxford Economics said housing affordability and income inequality weighed down Dallas’ quality-of-life ranking. The firm also said that, despite notable recreational and cultural amenities, the city’s art and culture offerings lack the breadth of those in leading metros.
The firm attributed Dallas’ environment category ranking to urban sprawl, limited public transit options, traffic congestion and poorer air quality than cities that outranked it.
“Moreover, frequent heatwaves and the heightened potential severity of natural disasters significantly downgrade Dallas’ standing,” Oxford Economics said. “Without more concrete plans to address these climate change hazards, the city risks further sliding in this category (and in others) in future years.”
Oxford Economics did not explain Dallas’ specific governance score, but the category is based on country-level indicators. It matches that of other U.S. cities profiled in the report.
R E A D N E X T
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