These are the world’s 15 most admired cities

Reputation, they say, is everything. And as it is with people, so it is with cities, if a new report into what the world thinks of our urban areas is to be believed.

The City RepTrak 2016 rankings puts Australia’s Sydney in the top spot of cities with the most favourable image, ahead of Vienna and Zurich.

The ranking is put together using a global survey based on tens of thousands of consumer ratings, collected in the G8 countries. It ranks the world’s most reputable cities based on levels of trust, esteem, admiration and respect.

Sydney has retained its ranking from 2015 but its sister city, Melbourne, which came in at number two last year, has dropped out altogether. Stockholm has also dropped, from last year’s number three to this year’s number five.

Canada has a strong showing with three cities in the top 10: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Last year only Vancouver made the grade.

Back in 2012, Vancouver was the city with the best reputation in the world, according to the ranking, and 2011 saw London take the prize. The British capital is conspicuous in its absence this year.

Perhaps most surprising is the lack of any cities in the United States. There have been no US cities in the table as far back as 2011.

On top of trust, esteem, admiration and respect, cities are also rated on their economy, business environment and the efficiency of their administration.

Willingness to visit, work, live and invest are also taken into account.