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The world's best cities for young people

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Fans arrive at the MTV Africa Music Awards in Nairobi.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Visitors walk around the Shanghai World Expo site.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Youths dance during the Masstival music festival in Istanbul.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Fans celebrate the qualification of Colombia's national soccer team for the 2014 World Cup tournament held in Brazil.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Carnival dancers belonging to the Nene da Vila Matilde samba school participate in the second night of the parade of samba schools in Sao Paulo

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Malini Agarwal (L), blogger-in-chief of missmalini.com, smiles as she dances with a friend at a newly-opened nightclub in Mumbai.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
A girl dances during a protest in Lima to demand that the G8 countries comply with their commitment to increase aid to the poorest nations.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
South Africans dance as they cheer during a parade to support the South African soccer team.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Girls pose for a picture in a fountain on a hot summer's day in Rome.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Ice skaters are seen on an ice skating rink in Mexico City.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
A woman walks on the beach to go swimming after playing in the mud during the Boryeong Mud Festival.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (C) watches as members of the dance group El Choque Urbano perform outside the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Trainers perform with whales during a show at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, south of Tokyo.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Teenagers play the guitar on Venice Beach in Los Angeles.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Music fans listen to Lady D perform.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Pandu and Dian, tourists from Indonesia, jump for a souvenir photograph.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
People relax in the sun near the fountains at Trocadero square near the Eiffel tower.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Gary Gossett (L) holds newspapers from 1963 as Stephen Cooper (R) embraces Shannon Walker at the site of former President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
A tourist catches snowflakes on her tongue during snow fall in Times Square.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
A young woman in a traditional Bavarian dirndl uses a mobile phone to take a picture of her friends.

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

Last updated on: August 20, 2014 17:54 IST
Reporters lean over the edge of the catwalk during the media preview for the EdgeWalk on the CN Tower in Toronto.

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!