Baku vs Tel Aviv

Baku and Tel Aviv are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Baku grades better on 7 measures, Tel Aviv on 11; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Baku 60, Tel Aviv 60
• OECD: Baku 55, Tel Aviv 58
• UN Tourism: Baku 60, Tel Aviv 57
• UNDRR: Baku 43, Tel Aviv 71

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Baku 65, Tel Aviv 45
• Economy and jobs: Baku 69, Tel Aviv 92
• Climate and hazards: Baku 40, Tel Aviv 55
• Water and environment: Baku 50, Tel Aviv 44
• Community and housing: Baku 75, Tel Aviv 58
• Access and continuity: Baku 42, Tel Aviv 63

Where Baku is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29.4 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 13.6 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Activities of hotels and similar establishments in 2025, 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 87.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 297.2 kg per resident per year (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan via ResearchGate, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 1.2 visitor nights per resident per year (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Activities of hotels and similar establishments in 2025 & Demographic Indicators of Azerbaijan, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (State Maritime and Port Agency of Azerbaijan & Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.

Where Tel Aviv is stronger

• Unemployment rate: 2.4 % of the labour force (region figure) (Israel Central Bureau of Statistics via The Jerusalem Post, May 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 59,717 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 4.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Country disaster risk: 3.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (metro figure) (Water Europe Marketplace / Mekorot, 2023). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 18 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI) Report 2024, 2024). Between 10 and 20: grade 1/4.
• Rent growth: 3.2 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (reported by Ynet News), Q1 2025 – Q1 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, States of Emergency & Resident's Preparation, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Israel Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 84.4 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Azerbaijan: #58 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Israel: #50 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Baku in full · Tel Aviv in full

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