Munich among the top performers
The Smart City Index, compiled by the digital industry association Bitkom, is a digital ranking of major German cities. For the eighth time, cities with more than 100,000 residents were compared based on several criteria. After three years in first place, Munich secured second place in 2026. The state capital of Bavaria once again improved its index score and, with 92.0 out of 100 points, trails first-place Stuttgart by just 0.8 points.
For the index, more than 80 German cities were compared across five areas: administration, IT and communications, energy and the environment, mobility, and society and education. Munich performed particularly well in the mobility category, scoring 99.8 points. Munich also ranks among the top performers in the areas of IT and communication, administration, and society and education.
“Smart City Munich aims to use digital solutions to improve living conditions for everyone living in Munich and to foster transparency and participation,” explains Munich’s City Planning Officer Elisabeth Merk. “This year's results show that we are on the right track, but that there is still a lot of potential for improvement where we can continue to work and grow. Our smart city initiatives, such as the Integrated Smart City Action Program (ISCH), and our wide range of projects, are the basis for our city’s sustainable development.”
Dr. Laura Dornheim, Munich's IT Officer: “We extend our warmest congratulations to Stuttgart! The fact that other cities are catching up—and even surpassing Munich—in the area of smart cities is, first and foremost, a positive development for the entire state. How modern and user-friendly interactions with public administration are should not depend on where you live, but should be the standard everywhere. We’re still very pleased with second place, though. It confirms that we in Munich continue to deliver top-notch performance. I would like to thank all the employees at the Munich City Administration who work every day to shape the future of our city!”
