The Lion City was chosen as the second safest city in the world in The Economist‘s Safe Cities Index. Singapore’s safety score rose from 84.61 in 2015 to 89.64 in 2017, placing it right after Tokyo.
Singapore landed the top spot for infrastructure security and personal security whilst landing second on digital security. However, it missed the mark on health security and only placed 13th globally.
Of the cities in the top 10 positions in the overall index, four are East Asian cities (Tokyo, Singapore, Osaka and Hong Kong), while three (Amsterdam, Stockholm and Zurich) are European.
Of the 10 cities at the bottom of the overall index, three are in South-east Asia (Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta), two are in South Asia (Dhaka and Karachi) and two are in the Middle East and Africa (Cairo and Tehran).
The Safe Cities Index 2017 is a report from The Economist Intelligence Unit sponsored by NEC Corporation. The report is based on the second iteration of the index, which ranks 60 cities across 49 indicators covering digital security, health security, infrastructure security and personal security.
According to The Economist, cities with health security are designed with adequate walking and green spaces that encourage fitness and health. These conditions lower the risk of illnesses like heart disease.
Still, the Lion City was commended for helping its elderly live independently through the Elderly Monitoring System, which helps them track their daily activities and health.
“For cities with ageing populations, technology can help manage urban health and wellbeing more efficiently and at a lower cost,” the report said.
Singapore has done well in two separate studies released yesterday, ranking fifth out of 44 cities in the annual Global Power City Index and second out of 60 cities in the Safe Cities Index. In the Global Power City Index, by the Tokyo-based Mori Memorial Foundation, Singapore keeps its rank for the ninth year running, after London, New York, Tokyo and Paris.
The results of the 2017 Safe Cities Index, which now covers 60 cities, showed a sharp divide in overall levels of safety between the fast urbanising developing world and the stagnant developed world. The top three cities in the index are unchanged from 2015, with Tokyo, Singapore and Osaka ranked first, second and third. The remainder of the top 10 continues to be comprised of mainly Asian and European cities.
Analysing the data gathered, The Economist’s team noted: “Another major shift has come to the fore; the rapid deployment of digital technologies in pursuit of the so-called “smart city”. The technologies no doubt bring benefits. As part of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, sensors collect and wirelessly transmit data from physical objects, delivering new insights into city operations and permitting remote and more efficient management of infrastructure and services. And with the spread of closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and webcams around cities, technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics can greatly enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies to combat urban crime and terrorism.