Bengaluru ranked world's fastest-growing major city by 2035: Savills
Synopsis
Savills has ranked Bengaluru as the world's fastest-growing major city by 2035 in an index of 245 cities, citing GCC expansion, a young skilled workforce, and rising inward migration. With private equity investment into Indian real estate surging 66% year-on-year to $1.2 billion in Q1 2026, the city's rise signals a broader urban growth story that extends well beyond the tech sector.
Key Takeaways
Bengaluru ranked the world's fastest-growing major city by 2035 in Savills' index of 245 cities .
Multiple Indian cities placed in the top 20 ; Asia Pacific accounted for 85% of the top 20 fastest-growing cities.
Growth drivers include a young skilled workforce, rising inward migration, and GCC expansion.
Only cities with a GDP of $50 billion or more in 2025 were assessed.
Private equity investment into Indian real estate rose 66% year-on-year to $1.2 billion in Q1 2026 .
Bengaluru has been identified as the world's fastest-growing major city by 2035, driven by a strong talent base and its emergence as a leading Global Capability Centre (GCC) hub, according to a report released on Monday, 5 May 2025 by global property consulting firm Savills. The finding comes from the firm's city index, which assessed 245 cities worldwide, placing multiple Indian cities in the top 20.
Key Findings of the Savills Index
The Savills index evaluated cities across a range of economic indicators, including city GDP growth through to 2035, personal wealth growth, population dependency ratio, inward migration, and the number of households earning above $70,000. Only cities with a GDP of $50 billion or more in 2025 were considered for inclusion, ensuring the rankings reflect genuinely large urban economies.
Asia Pacific cities dominated the results, accounting for 85 per cent of the fastest-growing cities in the top 20 and three-quarters of the top 50 spots. India, Vietnam, and China are identified as leading the growth momentum across the region.
Why Bengaluru Leads the Rankings
Bengaluru's top position is attributed to a convergence of structural factors: a young and highly skilled workforce, rising inward migration, and accelerating demand from global corporations establishing capability centres in the city. The technology ecosystem in the city has matured considerably, making it a preferred destination for multinational firms looking to set up GCC operations.
Arvind Nandan, Managing Director, Research & Consulting, Savills India, said:
Point of View
But the more telling detail is that multiple Indian cities feature in the top 20 — suggesting the growth story is not a single-city anomaly. The GCC boom is real, but it is also concentrated: a handful of sectors and geographies are doing the heavy lifting. The 66% surge in private equity inflows into Indian real estate in Q1 2026 signals that institutional capital is already pricing in this trajectory — the question is whether urban infrastructure, housing supply, and governance can keep pace with the growth that the index projects.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Bengaluru been ranked the world's fastest-growing major city by 2035?
Bengaluru topped the Savills index of 245 cities due to its strong talent base, a maturing technology ecosystem, and rapid growth as a Global Capability Centre hub for multinational corporations. A young, skilled workforce and rising inward migration were also key factors cited in the report.
What criteria did Savills use to rank cities in its index?
Savills assessed cities across multiple economic indicators including city GDP growth through to 2035, personal wealth growth, population dependency ratio, inward migration, and the number of households earning above $70,000. Only cities with a GDP of $50 billion or more in 2025 were eligible for inclusion.
How did other Indian cities perform in the Savills index?
Multiple Indian cities placed in the top 20 of the Savills index. India, alongside Vietnam and China, was identified as leading growth momentum across Asia Pacific, which accounted for 85% of the top 20 fastest-growing cities.
What does this mean for real estate investment in India?
According to Savills, high-growth cities are expected to see rapid evolution in real estate markets, creating strong opportunities for investors and developers. Private equity investment into India's real estate sector rose 66% year-on-year to $1.2 billion in Q1 2026, reflecting growing institutional confidence.
What is a Global Capability Centre and why is it important for Bengaluru?
A Global Capability Centre (GCC) is an offshore unit set up by a multinational corporation to handle specialised functions such as technology, analytics, or finance. Bengaluru has emerged as one of the world's leading GCC destinations, driving demand for Grade-A office space and attracting high-skilled talent.
