Latin America has accounted for more than two-thirds of the global south’s economic weight over the past 20 years, outperforming regions like Asia and Africa, according to a new report by SuperSymmetry Institute, a consortium of global think tanks.
During the Horasis Global Summit 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil, SuperSymmetry Institute shared a preview of their comparative analysis of top 50 global cities, considering factors like their urban competitiveness, business environment, and investment appeal.
Researchers found that, within their unique Global South City Index- relying on 250 indicators and 25 million datapoints- five systemic megatrends arise: geopolitical tensions; growing economic weight of the global south; technological breakthroughs; demographic growth and rapid urbanization; and climate and resource pressures.
The report, which will be launched in its entirety at the end of 2025, also noted that although Latin American cities show moderate signs of growth compared to overall global benchmarks, cases like São Paulo demonstrate relatively high growth.
Regardless, all Latin American cities show significant potential for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).