Partnering with Cities for a Happier Future
The Happy City Index helps cities become more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient by focusing on what truly matters in everyday life.
Our work is guided by six key pillars:
- Health
- Education
- Mobility
- Governance
- Environment
- Economy
We provide data-driven analysis and strategic support tailored to each city’s needs. Together, we turn insights into action.
No matter your city’s size or location – we’re here to help you build a happier future.
Is Your City Missing from the Index? Here's Why – and What You Can Do
If your city is not currently included in the Happy City Index, there are several possible reasons. Our evaluation process is based on international standards of transparency, comparability, and data quality – and we are committed to treating every city with fairness and consistency.
Why Your City May Not Appear in the Index
- 1. Our initial screening showed that your city would not rank among the top 600 globally.
This decision was based on a preliminary analysis of publicly available data, which revealed significant gaps or a lack of transparency in key areas. As a result, the city was not forwarded for in-depth analysis by our researchers. - 2. A researcher was assigned, but the analysis confirmed insufficient data quality.
While the initial review suggested your city had potential for inclusion, the researcher found that the available data lacked the reliability, measurability, or comparability needed to conduct a valid evaluation. - 3. The city was fully analysed, but its final score placed it outside the top 200.
The researcher completed the full assessment, but the city’s overall result did not qualify for inclusion in the published group of top 200 cities.
Your City in the Happy City Index
If your city is part of the Happy City Index, it means we already have a rich foundation of data, indicators, and trends that reflect its unique urban profile. That alone opens the door to deeper insight, collaboration, and strategic support tailored to your priorities.
Over the years, the Happy City Index has grown into one of the most extensive urban research initiatives in the world. With the help of an international network of researchers, we collect, structure, and analyse data on a wide range of themes – from governance and health to sustainability, innovation, and quality of life.
For cities already included in the Index, we offer the opportunity to go further:
- Explore detailed trend analyses based on the existing dataset,
- Commission tailored reports aligned with your development strategies,
- Focus on specific themes such as green mobility, digital inclusion, or social cohesion.
Each report is created in close dialogue with your city to ensure that the insights are locally relevant, evidence-based, and actionable. Whether you're aiming to inform a policy process, benchmark your progress, or guide long-term strategy – we can help you make the most of your city's data.
All resources obtained through commissioned work are reinvested directly into maintaining and enhancing the Happy City Index – by expanding datasets, improving tools, and strengthening our global research community.
We see this as a shared journey – and we’re here to support your next steps.
Happy City Academy: Training for Local Authorities
We share our expertise in urban data and sustainable development through training sessions tailored for municipal teams. These are designed to strengthen understanding of the Happy City Index and how to use data for policy and planning.
For full details on available programmes and registration, please visit the Happy City Academy.
Want Your City to Be Analysed or Reassessed? Here's How to Work With Us
We never charge cities for inclusion in the Happy City Index – and we never will. Inclusion depends on data quality and methodological alignment. If your city is not currently part of the Index and you would like it to be reviewed, we offer three ways to collaborate:
Option 1: Collaborate with a Trained Researcher (Our Core Method)
Our primary approach to data collection relies on a global network of approximately 200 trained researchers who work remotely. Using secure tools and standardised methods, they assess cities based on publicly available and institutional data.
We independently select cities for review based on available global indicators – regardless of whether city authorities request it. Our aim is to identify cities with the potential for strong quality-of-life performance.
That said, the process can be streamlined if the city provides a contact person in the administration – typically someone responsible for data or planning. We will forward the contact to a researcher, who may follow up to clarify indicators or access key documents. However, we also carry out reviews entirely independently when no contact is provided.
Researchers, once certified, act independently. They choose appropriate data sources, determine forms of contact, and apply our methodology consistently across all cities. This ensures neutrality and comparability in every case.
Option 2: City-Led Data Submission (Accepted, But Requires Rigorous Standards)
Cities may submit data directly via a designated official using our secure online platform. This is a valid path – but it comes with high expectations:
- The person submitting must be familiar with our methodology and its requirements.
- All data must be verifiable, well-sourced, and internationally comparable.
We understand that city officials are often passionate advocates for their communities. But such passion can lead – even unintentionally – to the inclusion of anecdotal, incomplete, or overly favourable data.
If the data submitted does not meet our standards, it will not be published, and the city will not appear in the Index. Additionally, if a city chooses this method, we do not assign a researcher for verification. This means flawed data may result in exclusion — not as a penalty, but due to the structure of our editorial workflow.
Option 3: In-Depth Review with a Local Researcher (Subject to Availability and Cost)
For cities that seek a full assessment, we offer the possibility to assign a dedicated on-site researcher. This individual (typically based in the UK) will:
- Visit the city,
- Review internal documentation,
- Meet with relevant departments,
- Collect and validate necessary data.
This option involves cost and is subject to availability based on our team’s capacity. On-site researchers work with full independence and their sole focus is data quality and methodological accuracy — not city promotion.
Building the Index Together
The Happy City Index is more than a ranking — it’s a global initiative built on trust, transparency, and learning. Whether you participate through researcher collaboration, a self-assessment, or an in-depth engagement, we’re here to support your city’s journey toward inclusive, resilient, and evidence-based urban development.