Beijing ranks fifth in global city talent retention index

Beijing ranked fifth globally in a city talent retention index released on Monday, remaining among the world’s top 10 for the seventh consecutive year, according to a report released during the 2026 China-Europe Talent Forum.

The Global City Talent Retention Index Report 2026 was jointly released by the Beijing Institute of Talent Development Strategy and Springer Nature. during the 2026 China-Europe Talent Forum in Beijing.

The report assessed 130 cities across 47 countries on six dimensions: economic fundamentals, innovation momentum, cultural openness, ecological health, social welfare, and public life. Beijing retained the top position globally in innovation momentum, according to the report. New York topped the overall ranking, followed by London, San Francisco, and Paris. Beijing ranked fifth, followed by Boston, Chicago, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore.

The report said Beijing’s performance was supported by its innovation ecosystem, including research output, its concentration of leading scientists, and the presence of major research institutions.