According to the recently released 2026 Global Cities Index by Oxford Economics, San Jose, California, has secured the top position globally for GDP per person, demonstrating the immense economic productivity of its residents. The Silicon Valley hub recorded an impressive $238,700 in economic output per individual, based on 2025 GDP and population figures.
The report highlights a significant dominance by American cities, with 27 out of the top 40 spots occupied by urban centers across the United States. This reflects the broad scale and diverse strengths of the American economy, encompassing technology, finance, professional services, and advanced industries.
US Cities Lead Global Productivity
Following San Jose, San Francisco ranks second with $181,889 per person, and Seattle comes in fifth at $152,030. Other prominent US cities in the top 20 include Boston ($135,264), New York ($129,253), Salt Lake City ($126,575), and Washington, D.C. ($120,638). Notably, smaller metropolitan areas such as Durham, Des Moines, and Omaha also made the top 40, underscoring that high per-resident output isn't exclusive to the largest US urban areas.
The ranking emphasizes that GDP per person offers a different perspective than total GDP. While New York boasts a colossal overall economy, its per-person output places it lower than some smaller, highly specialized cities. This metric prioritizes economic output relative to population size, allowing cities with dense concentrations of productive industries to excel.
European Hubs Show Strong Performance
Beyond North America, European cities demonstrate strong economic vitality. Dublin, Ireland, secured the third spot globally with $159,732 per person, followed closely by Basel, Switzerland, at $156,312. Luxembourg City also features prominently, ranking sixth with $147,396 per resident.
Switzerland, in particular, has a remarkable presence, with Basel, Geneva, Zurich, Bern, and Lausanne all making the top 40. These European cities often combine relatively smaller populations with robust high-value sectors such as pharmaceuticals, finance, and advanced technology, contributing to their elevated economic output per individual.
Select Cities from Other Regions
Outside of North America and Europe, only a few cities managed to break into the top 40. Singapore placed 36th with $99,354 per person, Saudi Arabia's Dammam ranked 39th at $97,074, and Perth, Australia, rounded out the list at 40th with $96,958.
The strong performance of US cities in this index aligns with the broader strength of the American economy, which generated approximately $30.6 trillion in nominal GDP in 2025. This scale is further illustrated by the fact that 19 US states would rank among the world’s 50 largest economies if compared to sovereign nations.