![]() By this measure, countries in sub-Saharan Africa face the greatest threat: We estimate that of the 171 million flood-exposed people in this region, at least 71 million people live in extreme poverty (i.e. By considering the dimension of poverty, it is possible identify where floods would cause prolonged adverse impacts on livelihoods and well-being. ![]() The most devastating long-term consequences of floods are often experienced by the poorest households – those who have next to no savings and limited access to support systems. When flood exposure and poverty coincide the risk to livelihoods are most severe. This regional picture is explained by the fact that several large and densely populated areas are in high-risk flood zones, such as coastal areas or low-lying river plains (for instance along the Mekong, Brahmaputra, or Irrawaddy rivers).ģ. These regions are home to the majority of flood-exposed people, about 1.36 billion with China (329 million) and India (225 million) alone accounting for over a third. Yet, the sheer number of people in harm’s way is particularly large in South and East Asia. Flood risk is global, but East Asia and South Asia could see the worst of it.įlood risk is a near universal threat: populations are not safe in any of the 189 countries examined. Furthermore, for over half of this exposed population, flooding could be even higher reaching life-threatening levels, especially for children and the disabled.Ģ. About 1.47 billion people, or 19% of the world population, are directly exposed to inundation depths of over 0.15 meters. Such an event has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year, which translates to a 10% probability in a decade, or 50% in a lifetime (68 years). Some 2.2 billion people, or 29% of the world population, live in locations that are estimated to experience some level of inundation during a 1-in-100-year flood event. Around the world, exposure to flood risk is substantial. Using the latest high-resolution flood hazard and population maps, as well as poverty estimates from the World Bank’s Global Subnational Atlas of Poverty and Global Monitoring Database, we estimate that 1.47 billion people globally are directly exposed to the risk of intense flooding - over a third of them, almost 600 million, are poor.ġ. Critically, it is not only major, more infrequent floods, but also smaller, frequent events that can reverse years of progress in poverty reduction and development. While countries at all levels of development face flood risk, the vast majority of the world’s flood exposed people – 89% – live in low- and middle- income countries. Floods often cause unmitigated damage and suffering, especially in lower income countries where infrastructure systems – including drainage and flood protection – tend to be less developed. Flooding is one of the most common and severe hazards disrupting people’s lives and livelihoods around the world.
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