Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.[6][7] It is a major cultural and economic centre insouthwestern Europe, 24th in the world (before Zürich, after Frankfurt)[8] and a financial centre. In 2008 it was the fourth most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with GDP amounting to €177 billion.[9] In 2012 Barcelona had a GDP of $170 billion; it is leading Spain in both employment rate and GDP per capita change.[10]
In 2009 the city was ranked Europe's third and one of the world's most successful as a city brand.[11] In the same year the city was ranked Europe's fourth best city for business and fastest improving European city, with growth improved by 17% per year,[12] and the city has been experiencing strong and renewed growth for the past three years. Since 2011 Barcelona has been a leading smart city in Europe.[13]Barcelona is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelona being one of Europe's principal seaports and busiest European passenger port,[14] an international airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which handles over 40 million passengers per year,[15] an extensive motorway network, and a high-speed rail line with a link to France and the rest of Europe.
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