// CITY_ASSESSMENT
How smart is Cologne?
Cologne scores 37.4% against the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework in 2026 — ranked #254 of 386 cities assessed, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Smart score
37.4%
Rank
#254 / 386
Criteria present
27 / 86
Evidence coverage
43%
Cologne's smart city score by area
6 present · 2 partial · 4 absent · 3 not assessed
6 present · 3 partial · 3 absent
3 present · 1 partial · 0 absent · 9 not assessed
4 present · 2 partial · 1 absent · 4 not assessed
5 present · 0 partial · 0 absent · 8 not assessed
2 present · 1 partial · 0 absent · 5 not assessed
1 present · 1 partial · 0 absent · 12 not assessed
Where Cologne is strong
- ▸Open Data & Transparency
- ▸Active & Shared Mobility
- ▸Education & Digital Skills
- ▸Food Security & Urban Agriculture
- ▸Health & Digital Health
Where the gaps are
- ▸Urban Data Platform & Digital Twin
- ▸Green Space & Biodiversity
- ▸Digital Government Services
- ▸Smart Traffic & Electric Vehicles
- ▸Air Quality & Monitoring
Evidence highlights
Open Data & Transparency · Programmatic API access
The "Stadtkartenwerk Köln" dataset is provided through "Kartendienste (WMS, WMTS und WCS)" for use in Geographic Information Systems, which are standard web services (APIs) for geospatial data.
https://www.offenedaten-koeln.de/dataset/stadtkartenwerk-koelnConnectivity & ICT Infrastructure · Fibre / high-speed broadband coverage
NetCologne, a regional telecommunications provider, offers fibre optic (Glasfaser) internet services, including Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH), in Cologne and the surrounding region, with tariffs up to 600 Mbps.
https://www.netcologne.de/privatkunden/Public Transport & Real-Time Information · Public transport network
The VRS GmbH provides timetable data for public transport, and there are mentions of buses, trains, and a cable car in Cologne and the surrounding NRW region.
https://www.offenedaten-koeln.de/dataset/vrs-verkehrsdaten-gtfsPublic Transport & Real-Time Information · Open schedule data (GTFS)
The VRS GmbH provides daily updated timetable data in the Google-developed GTFS (General Transport Feed Specification) format, available through "Offene DatenKöln" (Open Data Cologne).
https://www.offenedaten-koeln.de/dataset/vrs-verkehrsdaten-gtfsAbout this assessment
Cologne was assessed against the 86 criteria of the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework on 2026-07-12 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, and every finding links to where it was found. Scores refresh continuously as cities publish new evidence.