Photographs: Fatih Saribas/Reuters
Youth are at the centre of urbanisation. They add energy, vibrancy, creativity and digital age talent to cities. And, 50 per cent of the world’s population is below 30 years of age.
A global initiative called YouthfulCities rank the world’s top 100 cities from a youth perspective.
The YouthfulCities Index ranks 25 global cities across 80 unique indicators. It looks at which cities are most attractive to youth between the ages of 15 to 29 and which cities will have a competitive edge in the future.
Let’s take a look at the best cities for youth.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Fatih Saribas/Reuters
Kinshasa
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Rank: 25
Overall score: 331.95
Talking points
The city has the lowest per capita carbon emissions among the 25 cities.
It ranks 18th overall and 4th in African region in entrepreneurship.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Rank: 24
Overall score: 434.24
Talking points
Nairobi has the lowest suicide rate among the 25 cities.
It also has the highest percentage of youth population.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Nairobi
Lagos
Country: Nigeria
Rank: 23
Overall score: 540.63
Talking points
Lagos ranks fourth in entrepreneurship among the 25 cities and 10th in civic participation.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters
Manila
Country: Philippines
Rank: 22
Overall score: 564.67
Talking points
Manila ranks second in environmental sustainability. It is, however, at the bottom in youth employment.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Jamal Saidi/Reuters
Cairo
Country: Egypt
Rank: 21
Overall score: 579.57
Talking points
Cairo ranks third in youth employment and 10th in economic status.
The city scores 25th in safety and mental health category.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Jamal Saidi/Reuters
Shanghai
Country: China
Rank: 20
Overall score: 583.84
Talking points
Shanghai ranks fifth in public space, sports and gaming and has the lowest youth unemployment rate among all the 25 cities.
However, it is at the bottom in environmental sustainability and ranks 23rd in music and film.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Fatih Saribas/Reuters
Istanbul
Country: Turkey
Rank: 19
Overall score: 610.26
Talking points
Istanbul ranks sixth in safety and mental health.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Fredy Builes/Reuters
Bogota
Country: Colombia
Rank: 18
Overall score: 623.41
Talking points
Bogota ranks fourth in environmental sustainability and first in the Latin American region in entrepreneurship
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Reuters
Sao Paulo
Country: Brazil
Rank: 17
Overall score: 646.97
Talking points
Sao Paulo ranks third in civic participation and seventh in diversity. The city, however, ranks low in music and film and economic status.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Vivek Prakash/Reuters
Mumbai
Country: India
Rank: 16
Overall score: 647.82
Talking points
Mumbai has the lowest suicide rate among the 25 countries in the list and ranks fourth in the civic participation category.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Reuters
Lima
Country: Peru
Rank: 15
Overall score: 655.44
Talking points
Lima ranks second in civic participation and it is at the top in safety and mental health category.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters
Johannesburg
Country: South Africa
Rank: 14
Overall score: 663.98
Talking points
Johannesburg ranks sixth in diversity but ranks low in entrepreneurship.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters
Rome
Country: Italy
Rank: 13
Overall score: 667.34
Talking points
Rome ranks third in the number of chartered banks but ranks low in entrepreneurship.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Edgard Garrido/Reuters
Mexico City
Country: Mexico
Rank: 12
Overall score: 672.24
Talking points
Mexico City tops when it comes to education access for young but ranks low in overall economic status.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Lee Jae Won/Reuters
Seoul
Country: South Korea
Rank: 11
Overall score: 723.59
Talking points
Seoul tops in environmental sustainability but is at the bottom when it comes to safety and mental health.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters
Buenos Aires
Country: Argentina
Rank: 10
Overall score: 714.03
Talking points
Buenos Aires ranks third in both internal transportation and environmental sustainability.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Kim Kyung Hoon/Reuters
Tokyo
Country: Japan
Rank: 9
Overall score: 735.91
Talking points
Tokyo finishes first overall in economic status but ranks low in civic participation.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Los Angeles
Country: US
Rank: 8
Overall score: 754.39
Talking points
Los Angeles tops the entrepreneurship category. The city, however, ranks low in safety and mental health category.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Jim Young/Reuters
Chicago
Country: US
Rank: 7
Overall score: 774.53
Talking points
Chicago ranks second in public space, sports and gaming But 21st in environmental sustainability.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Olivia Harris/Reuters
London
Country: UK
Rank: 6
Overall score: 762.40
Talking points
London ranks second in the overall diversity and ninth in environmental sustainability.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters
Paris
Country: France
Rank: 5
Overall score: 775.25
Talking points
Paris ranks first in fashion and art and also has the best digital access. The city, however, ranks low in entrepreneurship.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
Dallas
Country: US
Rank: 4
Overall score: 784.06
Talking points
Dallas the best public space, sports and gaming and also ranks second in entrepreneurship.
The city ranks 24th in environment sustainability and 20th in safety and mental health.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Darren Ornitz/Reuters
New York City
Country: US
Rank: 3
Overall score: 831.98
Talking points
New York City finishes second youth employment but scores low in education access and public space, sport and gaming categories.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Michaela Rehle/Reuters
Berlin
Country: Germany
Rank: 2
Overall score: 836.44
Talking points
Berlin has the best internal transportation and top in music and film category.
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The world's best cities for young people
Photographs: Mark Blinch/Reuters
Toronto
Country: Canada
Rank: 1
Overall score: 843.85
Talking points
Toronto has the best diversity, digital access, youth employment, financial access, economic status, food and nightlife, music and film, fashion and art, public space sport and gaming!
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