The World Smart Cities Outlook 2024 provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of people-centred smart city development globally. Serving as a foundational reference for drafting the International Guidelines on People-Centred Smart Cities, the report offers qualitative and quantitative insights into smart city trends, challenges and opportunities, including fresh data on regional variations, the digital divide, skills gaps and much more. It evaluates the impact of smart city technologies and strategies on sustainability, resilience, equity, social inclusion, accessibility and quality of life.

The report highlights best practices, successful case studies, and key drivers for future developments while offering recommendations and guidelines to policymakers, local and national governments, intergovernmental organizations and other stakeholders. It emphasizes the need to create a collaborative ecosystem to foster innovation and sustainable urbanization, which includes capacity building, knowledge sharing, adequate strategies, policies frameworks, leadership support, resource allocation, oversight and monitoring mechanisms to ensure sustainability, inclusivity and compliance with human rights considerations in the digital space.

Through its blend of primary and secondary data, interviews and case studies, the Outlook is structured into thematic chapters, addressing topics such as public digital infrastructure, collaborative ecosystems, digital services, and policy frameworks, culminating in strategic recommendations

As a first of its kind within UN-Habitat, the report is a vital tool for member states, UN agencies, and development partners, guiding smart city policies and projects to achieve sustainable urban transformation. This report establishes a precedent for periodic updates, ensuring continued relevance and the evolution of evidence-based knowledge to inform sustainable and inclusive urban digital transformation efforts globally. The report is published on a biennial basis.