Southeast Asia's most populous metropolis ranks its 2nd smartest city

In the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index 2026, released by global consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the city state of Singapore ranked highest in Southeast Asia and 11th globally.

The city even overtook Tokyo to become the world's most populous city last year, according to a United Nations study.

Vietnam's most populous city, Ho Chi Minh, ranked 48th globally, making it the third smartest city in Southeast Asia, followed closely by Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, at 50th.

BCG said the index shows that artificial intelligence is becoming a key foundation of intelligent cities.

Rather than focusing solely on technology infrastructure, the index examines how effectively cities turn digital capabilities into better services and quality of life.