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Natural Disaster Hotspots and Vulnerable Countries

The World Bank has published a report entitled, "Natural Disaster Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis,"[1] that presents a global view of disaster risks associated with major natural hazards (drought, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, etc.). It identifies high-risk geographic regions, or "hotspots", so that development efforts can be better informed and reduce future disaster-related losses. The report was prepared in partnership with Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), and other members of the ProVention Consortium [2].

IEG's Evaluation of World Bank Assistance for Natural Disasters suggests using a related list of "hotspot" borrowing countries[3], that are at a relatively high risk from two or more hazards, to focus Bank's interventions and strategic planning on reducing these risks.

The maps below present: a) Hotspots across the globe, based on losses as % of GDP (see notes below), b) Hotspot Countries are World Bank client-countries (borrowers) particularly vulnerable to disaster risks, and c) a Combined Map presents the first two maps superimposed.

Top Hotspots Vulnerable Countries Overlayed Map
legend 1 legend 2 legend 3


Notes:
  • The "Hotspots" map presents highest economic loss risks (top three deciles) as a proportion of GDP per unit area. Hazards are depicted independently or in combinations, as indicated by the color legend.
  • "Hotspot Countries" lists borrowing countries that have significant levels of vulnerability to two or more natural hazards. Vulnerability is expressed as "High" (when 50% GDP or more is at risk), or "Medium" (30% to 50% GDP at risk).
  • Maps courtesy of the World Banks GIS team. Source data provided by Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), a ProVention Consortium partner.
Footnotes:

1. World Bank. (Dilley, Maxx; Robert S. Chen, Uwe Deichmann, Arthur L. Lerner-Lam, and Margaret Arnold, with Jonathan Agwe, Piet Buys, Oddvar Kjekstad, Bradfield Lyon, and Gregory Yetman). 2005. Natural Disaster Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.

2. ProVention Consortium is a global partnership dedicated to reducing the impacts of disasters in developing countries.

3. IEG (Independent Evaluation Group). 2006. Hazards of Nature, Risks to Development: An IEG Evaluation of World Bank Assistance for Natural Disasters. Washington, DC: World Bank (page 38).