Singapore rallied to 5th spot in world's most liveable cities

Its ranking was boosted by strong economics and governance.

Singapore jumped six spots to fifth place as one of the most liveable cities in the world, management consultant AT Kearney revealed.

According to its Global Cities Outlook 2018, Singapore has also retained its spot in the "Global Elite" which comprises of 25 cities including New York, London, and Paris.

Singapore excelled in this year’s outlook through its significant increase in economics and governance where it ranked second, “drawing on its strength as a stable and progressive economy to drive further foreign direct investments (FDI),” AT Kearney explained.

It also led the scoreboard for Online Presence for the second year in a row. AT Kearney said that this suggests that the government’s Smart Nation drive has been effective through the help of many public-private sector partnerships, initiatives for businesses, research and development, and heavy investment into innovation and security.

Singapore's smart city initiatives have cemented it as an elite global city in a 2017 report.

“The Singapore government has been actively investing to transform the island-state into a ‘Smart City’ equipped with cutting-edge technology and a nationwide digital platform.” AT Kearney partner and head of Southeast Asia Chua Soon Ghee said.

According to Chua, various investments from the private sector have also strengthened Singapore’s journey towards becoming a Smart Nation.

“In today’s digital age, this is a significant factor continuing to boost Singapore’s appeal for businesses who choose the city-state as their regional headquarters,” Chua explained.

Chua believes that high levels of preparedness for both physical and cybersecurity can give businesses good levels of assurance.

The Global Cities Outlook evaluates cities across the world based on economic performance, liveability, and quality of life.