Top! DKI Jakarta Ranked 53rd Best City in the World

DKI Jakarta has secured the 53rd position in the list of the 100 World’s Best Cities 2026, released by Brussels-based consultancy Resonance Consultancy. According to the report, Jakarta even outperformed Washington DC, United States, which sits at 57th place, while Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is ranked 86th.

President & CEO of Resonance Consultancy, Chris Fair, stated that Jakarta’s success is due to its tourism appeal, social media popularity, and improved transport connectivity. Nevertheless, Jakarta’s position still trails several other cities such as Guangzhou, China; Bogota, Colombia; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The top spots are held by London, New York, and Paris.

Chris noted that his firm views Jakarta as the world’s second most populous metropolitan area, which continues to develop despite facing various challenges, including land subsidence and the transfer of the national capital status to Nusantara. “Yes, the national capital status will indeed move to Nusantara. However, Jakarta’s economic centre of gravity will not shift,” Chris said in a statement.

Chris explained that Jakarta’s main strength lies in its lovability or city appeal. He noted that Jakarta ranks 28th globally in this category, far higher than its overall ranking. This appeal is driven by photogenic tourism areas and public spaces, such as the revitalised Kota Tua, rooftop venues in SCBD, and the Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) waterfront area. Various festivals, entertainment centres, and family destinations also propelled Jakarta into the global top 10 for Shopping and Family-Friendly Attractions.

Furthermore, Jakarta’s social media popularity has drawn attention. The city ranks ninth globally for Instagram posts and eighth for TikTok videos. In addition to the tourism and entertainment sectors, Resonance assessed that Jakarta’s transport connectivity continues to improve.