Every year, the World Competitiveness Centre (IMD) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design conduct a study to determine the world's smartest cities.
They recently published the Smart City Index for 2025. This time, the Cypriot capital ranked 122 out of 142, losing four positions compared to 2024 and continuing the downward trend since 2023, when it ranked 117th.
In this prestigious ranking, Nicosia found itself between Sofia (121st) and Rabat (123rd). This reflects the real challenges faced by the city's residents, particularly in areas such as affordable housing and traffic congestion. As part of the survey, residents were asked what worried them most about their city. The responses were as follows
- Affordable housing - 60%
- Traffic congestion - 56%
- Safety - 43%
- Corruption - 41%
- Public transport - 41%
- Healthcare - 39%
- Lack of green areas - 34%
- Schools - 25%
- Value of work - 25%
- Air pollution - 24%
- Waste recycling - 22%
- Unemployment - 21%
- Citizen participation in public affairs - 16%
- Basic amenities - 14%
- Social mobility - 10%.
The study also included an assessment of two key areas: infrastructure and technology, each of which was divided into five categories.
Infrastructure:
- Leisure and access to nature/culture - 53.10%.
- Opportunities (work, school) - 52.6%
- Health and safety - 45.86%
- Administrative services - 30.32%
- Road transport - 20.65%
Technology
- Online access to leisure (tickets, etc.) - 73.6%
- Digital opportunities (work, learning) - 60.07%
- Health and safety - 45.86%
- Road transport (technology) - 36.42%
- E-government services - 34.35%.
The transport system in Nicosia proved to be the most vulnerable. Residents were dissatisfied with both traffic and the availability of public transport. An interesting part of the study concerned the willingness of city dwellers to share personal information in order to improve the urban environment. For example, 58.6% said they would be willing to share personal information if it helped to reduce traffic congestion. 68.4% said they would be willing to use facial recognition technology to improve security, 50.2% believed that access to online information would increase trust in government, and 70.8% were positive about online payments for public services.
Despite Nicosia's overall lag in many indicators, the data shows that residents do not deny the importance of technology and are generally open to change - if it is truly convenient, transparent and useful.
The Smart City Index ranking is designed to show which cities around the world have most integrated high technology and smart solutions into the daily lives of their citizens.
Experts assess which city has been most successful in implementing the principle of 'government as a service'. For example, to rank high, a city must have implemented electronic queuing and online appointments for hospitals and government offices. Good public transport organisation also contributes to a higher ranking, such as an intelligent approach to developing a digital ticketing model and payment methods. Competent traffic management that allows pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and private cars to move around the city quickly and without congestion is also a sign of a 'smart' city. The ranking takes into account economic and technological indicators: levels of health and safety, mobility, opportunities, prospects for development and growth.
Yes, Nicosia still lags behind other European cities, but that means only one thing: the city needs strategic changes. Solving the problems of transport, affordable housing and digital services can not only improve the quality of life, but also restore the capital to its rightful place among modern, comfortable and truly 'smart' cities.