City Environment Quality Index 2024: Record Growth and Top-Ranked Cities

The results of the annual City Environment Quality Index have shown significant progress in the development of Russian cities. According to the report by the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, the share of cities with a favorable environment has reached a record 82.4%.

Leaders Among Megacities

The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation has finalized the results of the City Environment Quality Index for 2024. The study evaluated 1,116 cities across 36 key indicators covering various aspects of urban life. According to the assessment, Moscow and Saint Petersburg traditionally occupied the top two spots in the ranking. For the first time, Kazan took third place, demonstrating significant progress in the development of urban infrastructure. It is noteworthy that all the major cities in Russia were recognized as favorable for living. Special attention is drawn to Omsk and Volgograd, which for the first time exceeded the threshold value of 181 points required for a city to be granted a favorable status.

Impressive Growth in Indicators

According to the published data, the number of cities with a favorable environment has reached 920, which is 161 cities more compared to the year before last. This indicates a 17.5% growth in this indicator. The average index value across Russian regions increased from 200 to 220 points, which indicates a significant improvement in the quality of urban infrastructure throughout the country. "The initial national goal of increasing the City Environment Quality Index by 30% in 2024 has been achieved. This year, the number of cities with a favorable environment exceeded the planned value by 18%, with 205 cities becoming more comfortable for living," noted the Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation, Irek Fayzullin.

Regional Achievements

Particularly high results were shown by:

• The Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
• The Chechen Republic
• The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
• Ryazan Oblast
• Stavropol Krai
• Tula Oblast
• Chelyabinsk Oblast
• The Republic of Tatarstan
• Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug
• Kaliningrad Oblast
• The Republic of Crimea

Among cities with a population between 250 thousand and 1 million people, all 62 cities were recognized as comfortable. The greatest increase in the quality of the urban environment was demonstrated by Simferopol, Tula, and Ryazan. In the category of cities with a population between 100 and 250 thousand people, 86 out of 92 cities were recognized as favorable, indicating significant progress in the development of infrastructure in medium-sized settlements.

A Comprehensive Approach to Assessment

The City Environment Quality Index was formed based on a comprehensive analysis of 36 key indicators, which cover aspects such as:

• Landscaping of territories
• Safety of public spaces
• Accessibility of infrastructure
• Environmental conditions
• Diversity and modernity of the urban environment
• Efficiency of municipal management

The maximum possible score is 360 points. Cities scoring more than 181 points receive the status of being favorable for living.

Prospects for Further Development

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin emphasized the importance of the achieved results: "Improving the quality of life in Russian cities is a key priority of the Russian government. The index is a clear indication that, thanks to the implementation of the national project 'Housing and the Urban Environment' and the coordinated work of the regions, our cities have transformed significantly." He also noted that work on improving the urban environment will continue within the framework of the national project "Infrastructure for Life" to provide comfortable conditions for the self-realization of residents and the development of cities. On April 2, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stressed at a government meeting the importance of ensuring that citizens see concrete results from the federal project across the country.

Conclusion

The significant improvement in the City Environment Quality Index indicates the effectiveness of the measures implemented to enhance Russian cities. Achieving and exceeding the planned indicators speaks to a systematic approach to developing a comfortable urban environment. Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kazan not only maintain their leadership but also set high standards of urban landscaping for other settlements in Russia. The increase in the number of cities with a favorable environment to 920 demonstrates the success of the national strategy for improving the quality of life in Russian cities.