Comparing regions, regions and local areas across countries is a challenging task. Definitions that rely on administrative or legal boundaries are not comparable across countries. The OECD develops and uses territorial definitions and typologies for international comparisons. Territorial indicators experts and the OECD Geospatial Lab support these efforts
Regions, cities and local statistics
Improving people's well-being requires sound evidence-based policies. We produce indicators for regions, cities and local areas in all areas of well-being. We promote international comparability, as well as the use of cutting-edge methods and new sources of data. Our network of experts advises on best practices for the production and use of high-quality statistics.
Key links
![](/https/www.oecd.org/adobe/dynamicmedia/deliver/dm-aid--39b90c6b-d38a-493c-829d-5cf7e4d37d3c/cities-regions-local-statistics-header-template.jpg?quality=80&preferwebp=true)
Key messages
Within country inequalities have shown to be wide and persistent in the past two decades. OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance provides a large set of indicators for regions and cities. It sheds lights on within-country disparities in socio-economic, demographic and environmental trends.
Municipal governments often have a mandate to provide services and carry our investments. The municipal and local data platform provides indicators on a wide range of topics including demography, economy, labour, environment, and transport. The platform integrates official statistics and unconventional data sources such as satellite imagery.
Context
The OECD regional well-being web tool
Comparable measures can inform policies and empower communities to enact change. You can measure well-being in your region and compare it with 394 other OECD regions. The tool summarises indicators across eleven well-being dimensions.
Measuring the distance towards the SDGs web tool
How far are regions and cities from achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals? This tool measures the distance towards the SDGs in over 100 indicators for over 600 regions and 600 cities of OECD and partner countries.
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Our work on urban systems proposes place-based analysis and policy guidance to help cities of all sizes and their regions to address the multifaceted challenges cities face today, including addressing demographic change, advancing decarbonisation, and fostering social justice.Learn more
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Regions, cities, and rural areas are key to addressing global environmental challenges, including climate change. Effective solutions require concerted efforts in areas such as land use, infrastructure, and economic activity transformations. Subnational governments are strategically positioned to spearhead responses, overseeing, on average, 63% of climate-related public expenditure and 69% of climate-related public investment, alongside broader powers over skills, housing, transport, waste, water, energy, and land use.Learn more