Happy City Index 2027 · Preliminary Indicator Framework
Preliminary indicators to be researched for the Happy City Index 2027
The Happy City Index 2027 builds on the methodology developed through previous editions while introducing a limited number of additional indicators. The proposed additions reflect both practical experience from previous research cycles and the findings of the Global Residents Study 2027.
Preliminary research framework
This is the preliminary list of indicators that will be investigated during the Happy City Index 2027 research process. Inclusion at this stage does not automatically mean that an indicator will be used in the final ranking calculation. The final framework will depend on the completeness, availability, international comparability and verifiability of the data obtained during the research and validation stages. Indicators for which sufficiently robust data cannot be collected across the assessed cities may be excluded from the final scoring model.
74
indicators proposed for the research stage
64
indicators retained from previous editions
10
new indicators
6
thematic areas
Existing indicator
New for 2027
City level
Country level
Theme 01
Citizens
| No. | Indicator | Description | Measurement | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Urban Innovation Ecosystem Potential | Measures the wider conditions supporting innovation, research, development and the creation of future opportunities. | Existing HCI methodology based on recognised national innovation measures. | Country | Existing |
| 02 | School Density | Measures the spatial availability of school infrastructure. | Number of schools relative to the administrative area of the city. | City | Existing |
| 03 | Higher Education Accessibility | Measures physical access to a higher education institution. | Presence of a qualifying higher education institution within the city or within the distance defined in the HCI methodology. | City | Existing |
| 04 | Presence of a Globally Ranked Higher Education Institution | Reflects access to internationally recognised higher education. | Presence of an institution appearing in an accepted international university ranking. | City | Existing |
| 05 | Cost of Higher Education Compared to Average Annual Salary | Measures the affordability of higher education relative to earnings. | Tuition cost compared with average annual earnings. | Country | Existing |
| 06 | Residents with a Master's Degree (%) | Measures advanced educational attainment. | Percentage of residents holding a master's degree or equivalent qualification. | City | Existing |
| 07 | Population Able to Communicate in a Foreign Language (%) | Provides a contextual measure of linguistic capability and international openness. | Percentage of population able to communicate in at least one foreign language. | Country | Existing |
| 08 | Use of Electronic Banking Services (%) | Reflects digital and financial inclusion. | Percentage of population using electronic banking services. | Country | Existing |
| 09 | Population Aged 65+ Benefiting from Municipal Home Care (%) | Reflects formal support available to older residents. | Percentage of residents aged 65+ receiving qualifying home-care support. | Country | Existing |
| 10 | Homeless People per 10,000 Residents | Measures housing exclusion and social vulnerability. | Number of homeless people divided by population × 10,000. | City | Existing |
| 11 | Availability of City Website | Assesses the existence of an accessible official municipal online presence. | Official city website available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 12 | Net Internal Migration Rate per 1,000 Population | Measures whether a city attracts or loses residents through domestic migration. | Net internal migration divided by population × 1,000. | City | Existing |
| 13 | Pupils per School Building | Provides an indication of pressure on educational infrastructure. | Total pupils divided by the number of qualifying school buildings. | City | Existing |
| 14 | Employment in Creative Industries (%) | Reflects participation in creative and knowledge-based sectors. | Percentage of employment associated with qualifying creative industries. | Country | Existing |
| 15 | Housing Affordability Ratio for 50 m² Dwelling | Measures the affordability of purchasing a standard-sized home. | Cost of a 50 m² dwelling relative to median annual household income. | City | Existing |
| 16 | Housing Affordability Ratio (Rent) | Measures the burden of rental housing costs. | Median monthly rent relative to median monthly household income. | City | Existing |
| 17 | Cultural Institutions per 100,000 Residents | Measures the availability of formal cultural infrastructure. | Qualifying cultural institutions divided by population × 100,000. | City | Existing |
| 18 | Libraries per 10 km² | Measures the spatial density of public library infrastructure. | Number of public libraries divided by city area in km² × 10. | City | Existing |
| 65 | Kindergarten Density | Measures the spatial availability of registered kindergarten infrastructure. | Number of registered kindergartens divided by the administrative area of the city in km² × 10. | City | New |
| 73 | Social Housing Share | Tests the scale of social or public housing provision within the local housing system. | Qualifying social, public or municipally supported housing units as a percentage of total housing stock. Final definition subject to international comparability testing. | City | New |
Theme 02
Governance
| No. | Indicator | Description | Measurement | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Voter Turnout in the Last Local Elections (%) | Measures participation in local democratic processes. | Turnout in the most recent local election. | City | Existing |
| 20 | Open Data Portal Availability | Assesses public access to municipal datasets. | Official municipal open-data portal available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 21 | Datasets Available in Machine-Readable Formats | Measures whether municipal data can be reused and processed. | Availability of datasets in machine-readable formats under the existing HCI methodology. | City | Existing |
| 22 | Fault Reporting System via Website or Mobile App | Measures digital access to reporting local faults and service problems. | Official digital fault-reporting channel available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 23 | Electronic Payments for Municipal Services | Measures availability of electronic payment for municipal services. | Electronic municipal payment functionality available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 24 | Online Appointment Booking with City Hall | Measures digital accessibility of municipal administration. | Official online appointment-booking mechanism available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 25 | Up-to-Date Official Development Strategy | Assesses whether the city has a current long-term development strategy. | Valid official strategy available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 26 | Key Elements Included in the Strategy | Evaluates the substantive completeness of the city's strategic framework. | Assessment against the defined HCI strategy-content criteria. | City | Existing |
| 27 | AI Awareness in City Strategies | Measures whether city strategy explicitly recognises artificial intelligence in relation to urban development or residents' needs. | Defined reference to AI in qualifying official strategy documents. | City | Existing |
| 66 | Participatory Budgeting | Measures whether residents have a formal mechanism for directly influencing allocation of part of the municipal budget. | Official participatory budgeting programme operating: Yes / No. | City | New |
| 67 | Online Public Consultation | Measures formal online opportunities for residents to participate in municipal decision-making. | Official online consultation mechanism available: Yes / No. General contact forms or email addresses do not qualify. | City | New |
Theme 03
Environment
| No. | Indicator | Description | Measurement | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration | Measures exposure to fine particulate air pollution. | Annual mean PM2.5 concentration. | City | Existing |
| 29 | Green Mobility Share (%) | Measures the share of mobility associated with more sustainable transport modes. | Percentage of qualifying sustainable modes in the mobility mix. | City | Existing |
| 30 | Waste Generated per Resident | Measures municipal waste generation relative to population. | Total municipal waste divided by population. | City | Existing |
| 31 | Population Served by Sewage Treatment Facilities (%) | Measures coverage of wastewater treatment infrastructure. | Percentage of residents served by sewage treatment systems. | City | Existing |
| 32 | Recycling Rate (%) | Measures the proportion of municipal waste recycled. | Recycled municipal waste as a percentage of the qualifying waste stream. | City | Existing |
| 33 | Landfill Waste Burden | Measures dependence on landfill within the local waste-management system. | Share or quantity of municipal waste sent to landfill under existing HCI rules. | City | Existing |
| 34 | Biodiversity Protection Strategy | Assesses formal recognition of biodiversity protection in city policy. | Qualifying official biodiversity strategy or policy available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
Theme 04
Economy
| No. | Indicator | Description | Measurement | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | GDP per Capita | Provides wider economic context on output relative to population. | Gross domestic product per capita. | Country | Existing |
| 36 | GDP Growth (%) | Measures broader economic growth. | Annual percentage change in GDP. | Country | Existing |
| 37 | Patents per 100,000 Inhabitants | Provides a contextual signal of innovation and knowledge production. | Number of patents divided by population × 100,000. | Country | Existing |
| 38 | Businesses per 1,000 Residents | Measures density of economic activity. | Registered businesses divided by population × 1,000. | City | Existing |
| 39 | City Fiscal Power Index | Measures municipal financial capacity. | Calculated according to the existing HCI fiscal-capacity methodology. | City | Existing |
| 40 | Annual Average Unemployment Rate | Measures unemployment within the local labour force. | Average annual unemployment rate. | City | Existing |
| 41 | Annual Average Youth Unemployment Rate | Measures labour-market exclusion among young residents. | Average annual youth unemployment rate. | City | Existing |
| 42 | Youth Unemployment Ratio | Provides an additional measure of youth labour-market outcomes. | Youth unemployment relative to the relevant youth population. | City | Existing |
| 43 | Percentage Deviation in Earnings Relative to the National Average | Shows whether local earnings are above or below the national level. | Percentage deviation of city earnings from the national average. | City | Existing |
| 68 | Employment Rate | Complements unemployment measures by showing the proportion of the working-age population that is actually employed. | Employed population in the defined working-age group divided by the population of that age group × 100. | City | New |
Theme 05
Health
| No. | Indicator | Description | Measurement | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Paid Parental Leave Weeks at 50% or More of Salary | Measures meaningful access to paid parental leave. | Number of qualifying weeks of paid parental leave. | Country | Existing |
| 45 | Psychiatrists per 100,000 Inhabitants | Measures mental-health workforce availability. | Practising psychiatrists divided by population × 100,000. | City | Existing |
| 46 | Mental Health or Well-Being Strategy | Measures formal recognition of mental health and well-being in public policy. | Qualifying strategy available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 47 | Strategy to Prevent and Address Hate Speech or Cyberbullying | Assesses formal policy addressing harmful social and digital behaviours. | Qualifying official strategy or policy available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 48 | Licensed Medical Doctors Practising in the City (FTE) | Measures medical workforce capacity. | Full-time-equivalent practising doctors relative to population under existing HCI rules. | City | Existing |
| 49 | Population Covered by Medical Insurance (%) | Measures access to formal health coverage. | Percentage of population covered by medical insurance or equivalent healthcare coverage. | Country | Existing |
| 50 | Intentional Homicides per 100,000 Residents | Provides an objective measure of serious interpersonal violence. | Intentional homicides divided by population × 100,000. | City | Existing |
| 51 | Adults Classified as Overweight or Obese (%) | Measures a major population-health risk factor. | Percentage of adult population classified as overweight or obese. | City | Existing |
| 52 | Parks per km² | Measures the spatial density of parks. | Number of qualifying parks divided by city area in km². | City | Existing |
| 53 | Green Space per Capita | Measures green-space availability relative to population. | Total qualifying green area divided by population. | City | Existing |
| 54 | Average Weekly Working Hours | Measures working-time conditions relevant to work-life balance. | Average weekly hours worked. | Country | Existing |
| 55 | Average Number of Paid Vacation Days | Measures access to paid annual rest. | Average or statutory qualifying paid vacation days under existing HCI rules. | Country | Existing |
| 56 | Life Expectancy at Birth | Provides a broad outcome measure of health and living conditions. | Life expectancy at birth in years. | City | Existing |
| 69 | Hospital Beds per 100,000 Inhabitants | Tests healthcare infrastructure capacity relative to population. | Available hospital beds divided by population × 100,000. Territorial comparability will be tested during the research stage. | City | New |
| 71 | Pharmacies per 100,000 Inhabitants | Measures physical availability of community pharmacy services. | Registered community pharmacies within the city divided by population × 100,000. | City | New |
| 72 | Public Sports Facilities per 100,000 Inhabitants | Tests the availability of publicly accessible sports and recreation infrastructure. | Qualifying publicly accessible sports facilities divided by population × 100,000. Final definition will be tested for international comparability. | City | New |
Theme 06
Mobility
| No. | Indicator | Description | Measurement | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | Accessibility of Electronic Payment Systems in Transport | Measures ease of using electronic payment within public transport. | Assessment according to existing HCI public-transport payment criteria. | City | Existing |
| 58 | Access to International Air Connectivity | Measures access to international air transport connections. | Assessment under existing HCI airport-connectivity rules. | City | Existing |
| 59 | Access Modes to the Nearest Airport | Measures the range of transport options available for reaching the relevant airport. | Availability of qualifying airport access modes. | City | Existing |
| 60 | Public Transport Ridership per Capita | Measures actual use of the public transport system. | Annual public transport passenger journeys divided by population. | City | Existing |
| 61 | Accessible Public Transport Fleet (%) | Measures accessibility of public transport for people with reduced mobility. | Percentage of qualifying public transport fleet that is accessible. | City | Existing |
| 62 | Road Traffic Accidents per 1,000 Residents | Measures road-safety outcomes relative to population. | Recorded road traffic accidents divided by population × 1,000. | City | Existing |
| 63 | Open Public Transport Data Availability | Assesses availability of public transport data for public reuse. | Qualifying open transport data available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 64 | Integrated Journey Planner Availability | Measures digital access to integrated public transport journey planning. | Qualifying integrated journey planner available: Yes / No. | City | Existing |
| 70 | Dedicated Cycling Infrastructure per 100,000 Inhabitants | Tests the scale of dedicated cycling infrastructure supporting active mobility. | Kilometres of qualifying dedicated cycling infrastructure divided by population × 100,000. A common infrastructure definition will be tested across countries. | City | New |
| 74 | Public Transport Stops Density | Tests the spatial availability of the public transport network. | Number of qualifying physical public transport stops divided by the administrative area of the city in km² × 10. | City | New |
Data availability and final selection
The final HCI 2027 scoring framework will be confirmed after the research and validation stages.
All 74 indicators listed above form the preliminary research framework. The final scoring model may contain fewer indicators. Indicators may be excluded where the research process demonstrates that sufficiently complete, reliable, comparable or verifiable secondary data cannot be obtained across the assessed cities.
Particular attention will be given to the new indicators. Their assessment will consider not only their relevance to quality of life, but also the consistency of definitions between countries, availability of reliable data online, territorial comparability and the ability of independent researchers to reproduce the result.
The final Happy City Index 2027 methodology will therefore reflect both substantive relevance and demonstrated data quality. Publication of this preliminary framework marks the beginning of the research process rather than final confirmation of every indicator used in the ranking calculation.
