ISO 37120 is the international standard that defines indicators for city services and quality of life. It provides a consistent, comparable set of metrics that cities and communities can use to measure performance, benchmark progress, and inform decision-making across key urban domains.
ISO 37120 is an indicator standard, not a management system. It supports transparency, comparability, and evidence-based governance.
What is ISO 37120?
ISO 37120 is published by the International Organization for Standardization. It establishes a common framework of indicators that cities can report to assess how effectively they deliver services and improve quality of life for residents.
The standard is designed to be used by cities of different sizes and contexts and to enable like-for-like comparison over time and between cities.
What does ISO 37120 cover?
ISO 37120 specifies indicators across a broad range of city functions, including:
- Economy and finance
- Education
- Energy
- Environment
- Finance
- Fire and emergency response
- Governance
- Health
- Recreation
- Safety
- Solid waste
- Telecommunications and innovation
- Transportation
- Urban planning
- Wastewater
- Water and sanitation
Together, these indicators provide a holistic view of city performance.
Core and supporting indicators explained
ISO 37120 defines two types of indicators:
Core indicators
Essential measures that provide a baseline view of city performance. Cities are encouraged to report all applicable core indicators to ensure comparability.
Supporting indicators
Additional measures that provide deeper insight where data is available or relevant.
This structure allows cities to start with a core dataset and expand reporting over time.
How ISO 37120 indicators are used
Cities typically use ISO 37120 to:
- Benchmark performance against peer cities
- Track progress over time
- Identify service gaps and improvement priorities
- Support strategic planning and investment decisions
- Improve transparency and accountability
- Inform citizens, investors, and partners
The standard focuses on what to measure, not how to manage services.
Who is ISO 37120 for?
ISO 37120 is suitable for:
- Cities, towns, and metropolitan authorities
- Local and regional governments
- City data and performance teams
- Urban planners and policy makers
- Public agencies and utilities serving cities
It can also be used by researchers, investors, and organisations comparing city performance.
ISO 37120 vs management system standards
| ISO 37120 | Management system standards |
|---|---|
| Indicator and reporting standard | Governance and process standards |
| Focus on measurement | Focus on planning and delivery |
| Not certifiable | Often certifiable |
| Enables benchmarking | Enables continual improvement |
ISO 37120 is often used alongside a management system standard to turn data into action.
Relationship with other city standards
ISO 37120 sits within the ISO 37100 family of community and city standards and is commonly used with:
- ISO 37101 – Sustainable development in communities
- ISO 37122 – Indicators for smart cities
- ISO 37123 – Indicators for resilient cities
Together, these standards provide a comprehensive framework covering sustainability, smart services, resilience, and performance measurement.
Data quality and comparability
ISO 37120 places strong emphasis on:
- Clear indicator definitions
- Consistent calculation methods
- Transparent data sources and assumptions
- Regular updates and review
This ensures reported data is credible and comparable, even when cities differ in size or structure.
Is ISO 37120 certifiable?
No. ISO 37120 cannot be certified.
It is an indicator and reporting standard. Cities may state that their indicators are aligned with ISO 37120, but there is no ISO certification for the standard itself.
Benefits of using ISO 37120
Cities that use ISO 37120 effectively often achieve:
- Clearer understanding of service performance
- Improved evidence-based decision-making
- Stronger transparency and public trust
- Better benchmarking against peer cities
- Improved alignment between data, strategy, and investment
Consistent indicators help turn complex city systems into actionable insight.
Common misunderstandings about ISO 37120
- “It measures sustainability only” – it measures services and quality of life
- “All indicators must be reported immediately” – reporting can be phased
- “It replaces local metrics” – it complements them
- “Indicators alone drive improvement” – governance and action are still required
Understanding its role helps cities use the standard effectively.
How ISO 37120 fits with other ISO standards
ISO 37120 integrates well with:
- ISO 37101 (sustainable development management systems)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management)
- ISO 14090 (climate change adaptation)
- ISO 55001 (asset management)
- ISO 9001 (quality management)
This enables data-driven governance across services, assets, and sustainability.
Next steps
If you are considering ISO 37120:
- Identify which indicators are most relevant to your city
- Assess current data availability and quality
- Start with core indicators and expand over time
- Use results to inform strategy and investment
- Combine indicators with a management system for action
ISOcertified.net provides guidance on ISO 37120, including indicator selection, data collection, benchmarking approaches, and how city indicators support sustainable, smart, and resilient urban development.