Flood exposure and poverty in 188 countries

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Socioeconomics

Background:

• Flooding is a major natural hazard with severe consequences, particularly for low-income countries.
• Understanding the intersection of flood risk and poverty is critical for effective disaster management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide global estimates of population exposure to high flood risks, considering poverty levels.
• To identify priority regions for flood mitigation efforts to foster resilient development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized state-of-the-art global poverty data.
• Employed advanced flood modeling for 1-in-100-year flood events.
• Integrated poverty and flood exposure data to quantify affected populations.

Main Results:

• 1.81 billion people (23% of the global population) are exposed to 1-in-100-year floods.
• South and East Asia, particularly China and India, bear a significant burden of flood exposure (1.24 billion people).
• 89% of flood-exposed individuals reside in low- and middle-income countries, with 170 million in extreme poverty.

Conclusions:

• The study underscores the disproportionate impact of flood risk on vulnerable populations.
• Findings highlight key regions and populations requiring urgent flood mitigation interventions.
• Data supports targeted strategies for resilient development and poverty reduction in flood-prone areas.