Disasters, crises and extreme natural events are neutral in their ability to impact anyone exposed; however, disaster impact is not equal. Societal inequalities and vulnerabilities among specific groups, such as the elderly, children, and persons with disabilities, can exacerbate impacts and reinforce existing inequalities present within a society.
The World Risk Report 2023, jointly published by Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft and IFHV (Ruhr University Bochum – Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict) is an annual technical report assessing global disaster risks, highlighting the linkages and interactions between extreme natural events, negative impacts of climate change, societal inequalities, and disaster risk reduction.
The report includes articles by interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners presenting approaches and recommended actions to address challenges in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and development policy. Each year also takes a different focus, with the focus in 2023 being on Diversity. The report includes a global ranking of 193 countries, covering over 99% of the world’s population, using the WorldRiskIndex analysis model to provide deeper insights into several key aspects of disaster risk management.
The United Kingdom is currently ranked 80th out of 193 on the world risk index with a medium risk score. The countries with the highest disaster risk are the Philippines, Indonesia, and India. The Americas have the highest disaster risk, followed by Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Europe.
Click here to read the World Risk Report 2023
Links to previous World Risk Reports