The Russian Union of Engineers presented the General rating of the attractiveness of Russian cities 2011 based on 2010 statistics and expert assessments. Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Rostov on Don led, and Irkutsk ranked 21st, standing out for housing affordability, social infrastructure and citizen welfare.

The Russian Union of Engineers presented the “General Rating of the Attractiveness of Russian Cities – 2011” based on statistical data for 2010. The subject of the study was the cities of Russia with a population equal to or exceeding 100,000 people - there are 165 such cities in the country. At the same time, the rating considers 164 cities, due to the absence of statistical data for one of the cities in Tomsk Oblast. The cities were assessed using open statistical data, as well as expert evaluation. The results were summed up in 13 areas: demographic and social characteristics of society, development of the urban economy, citizens’ well-being, innovation and entrepreneurial activity, housing affordability, development of the housing sector, the condition of engineering communications and transport infrastructure, development of the social services sector, and the natural and environmental situation. According to the authors of the study, the most significant characteristics are population dynamics, citizens’ well-being and housing affordability, the city economy, and the development of the housing sector.
In the top five leaders (in descending order of the attractiveness index) are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Rostov-on-Don. There is an obvious significant gap between the first two and the third position: Moscow – 43.2, St. Petersburg – 31.9, Novosibirsk – 20.7. Irkutsk’s attractiveness index was 16.3, placing it 21st. It should be noted that ahead of Irkutsk are also such Siberian cities as Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Tomsk, and Tyumen. Behind it are such major Russian cities as Sochi, Kaliningrad, Blagoveshchensk, Samara, Kemerovo, Ulan-Ude, and others.
Our city was rated highest on the indicator “housing affordability” (index – 0.83). Similar indicators are also found in all major Siberian cities. The situation is worse in the capitals. The best is in Nizhny Novgorod. Our city holds a good position in terms of the development of social infrastructure. On this indicator, we are comparable to Yekaterinburg and look better than Novosibirsk. Irkutsk has a high index in terms of citizens’ well-being (the same as in St. Petersburg and higher than Novosibirsk). Irkutsk is also on the same level as Novosibirsk in terms of economic development. The leaders are Norilsk, Surgut, Nizhnekamsk, and Nizhnevartovsk.
According to experts, the rating reflects the level of interest of Russian cities in improving their economic potential, diversifying the economy, and developing effective mechanisms for managing urban services. It not only remains high, but also shows a tendency toward steady growth. A trend toward increased population mobility, greater business travel, educational migration, and relocation is also noted. The full table of the city attractiveness rating can be found on the website of the Russian Union of Engineers.
Based on materials from the press service of the Irkutsk city administration