A dataset of the smart governance index for Chinese cities

Cities worldwide are rapidly adopting smart governance strategies to address complex urban challenges, yet systematic measurement of their effectiveness remains limited. This study develops and applies a comprehensive Smart Governance Index (SGI) to evaluate governance transformation across 296 Chinese cities from 2017 to 2023. Our framework integrates three critical dimensions of urban governance: the Value Objectives Sub-index (VOS) that establishes normative goals and strategic priorities; the System Applications Sub-index (SAS) that delivers governance services through operational platforms; and the Institutional-Technical Support Sub-index (ITSS) that provides the underlying infrastructure and organizational capacity. This multidimensional assessment reveals substantial heterogeneity in smart governance adoption and effectiveness across Chinese cities, with global implications for urban policy design. The initial version of the dataset includes SGI and its sub-indices for 296 Chinese cities from 2017 to 2023, with annual updates planned. The spatiotemporal patterns identified demonstrate how cities at different development stages can optimize their governance pathways, offering insights for achieving sustainable urban transformation in diverse contexts.