Which city responded best to the Covid pandemic? Here’s a ranking
Some countries have managed the global pandemic better than others.
The same can be said for cities.
But understanding how cities are faring in the fight against Covid is more complicated that comparing infection rates and mask rules.
The London-based analytical agency Deep Knowledge Analytics (DKA) examined 114 variables across five categories of pandemic responses: economic resiliency, governance, healthcare, quarantines and vaccinations.
The results were published in September in a 116-page report entitled “Covid-19 City Safety Ranking Q2/2021.”
In total, DKA analyzed 8,200 data points — up from 1,250 in its first city report published in March — that touched on topics from quarantine lengths and economic support packages to civic resistance among residents.
The top 50 cities
DKA analyzed 72 cities and ranked the top 50.
Covid response ranking by city
City | Country | Score | Distinction |
1. Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates | 73.16 | No. 1 in Vaccination Rates |
2. Singapore | Singapore | 71.69 | No. 1 in Economic Resiliency |
3. Seoul | South Korea | 71.41 | No. 1 in Healthcare Management |
4. Tel Aviv-Yafo | Israel | 67.28 | |
5. Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 67.02 | |
6. Toronto | Canada | 65.4 | |
7. Sydney | Australia | 65.24 | |
8. Zurich | Switzerland | 65.23 | |
9. Dublin | Ireland | 64.75 | |
10. Ottawa | Canada | 64.58 | No. 1 in Government Efficiency |
11. London | United Kingdom | 64.14 | |
12. Amsterdam | Netherlands | 63.75 | |
13. Berlin | Germany | 63.31 | |
14. Tokyo | Japan | 63.09 | |
15. Copenhagen | Denmark | 62.93 | |
16. Beijing | China | 62.81 | No. 1 in Quarantine Efficiency |
17. New York City | United States | 62.5 | |
18. Shanghai | China | 61.83 | |
19. Auckland | New Zealand | 61.47 | |
20. Brussels | Belgium | 60.63 | |
21. Helsinki | Finland | 60.26 | |
22. Wellington | New Zealand | 60.02 | |
23. Bern | Switzerland | 59.98 | |
24. Hong Kong | Special admin. region of China | 59.45 | |
25. Los Angeles | United States | 59.4 | |
26. Stockholm | Sweden | 58.92 | |
27. Canberra | Australia | 58.66 | |
28. Oslo | Norway | 58.62 | |
29. Jerusalem | Israel | 58.34 | |
30. Warsaw | Poland | 58.30 | |
31. Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 57.47 | |
32. Madrid | Spain | 57.34 | |
33. Vienna | Austria | 56.45 | |
34. Valletta | Malta | 56.37 | |
35. Budapest | Hungary | 56.2 | |
36. Doha | Qatar | 55.82 | |
37. Moscow | Russia | 55.5 | |
38. Paris | France | 54.09 | |
39. Prague | Czech Republic | 53.75 | |
40. Rome | Italy | 53.61 | |
41. Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 53.45 | |
42. Zagreb | Croatia | 53.01 | |
43. Bratislava | Slovakia | 52.43 | |
44. Hanoi | Vietnam | 51.68 | |
45. Manila | Philippines | 51.61 | |
46. Athens | Greece | 51.58 | |
47. Jakarta | Indonesia | 51.43 | |
48. Ankara | Turkey | 51.08 | |
49. Bucharest | Romania | 50.93 |
Lisbon, Portugal came in at No. 50, with a score of 50.37 that was thwarted by a rocky vaccine rollout in the first half of 2021. Portugal now has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with nearly 86% of the country’s population having received two doses, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Cities including Istanbul, Johannesburg, Bangkok, New Delhi, Cairo, Mexico City and Baghdad were analyzed, but did not make the top 50 list.
Obviously, many people living in municipalities that ranked high on DKA’s list will disagree with their city’s top standing. Reports of anger and…
Read More: Which city responded best to the Covid pandemic? Here’s a ranking