PHILIPPINES RANKED HIGHEST AT THE WORLD RISK INDEX 2024
For 16 straight years, the Philippines is the most at-risk country globally among 193 countries including all member states of the United Nations and 99% of the world population in the 2024 edition of the World Risk Report by Denmark's Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict of the Ruhr–University Bochum.
A study showed that the Philippines is the riskiest country among 193 countries (Photo courtesy of GMA Integrated News)
Based on the longitudinal dataset (updated annually), the country has held the most at-risk spot since 2009.
The top 10 countries with the highest world risk index (WRI) are:
- Philippines (46.91)
- Indonesia - 41.13
- India - 40.96
- Colombia - 37.81
- Mexico - 35.93
- Myanmar - 35.85
- Mozambique - 34.44
- Russian Federation - 28.12
- Bangladesh - 27.73
- Pakistan - 27.02
The WRI of the countries were assessed on their levels of exposure, vulnerability, susceptibility, lack of coping capacities, and lack of adaptive capacities to crises including extreme natural disasters, conflicts, pandemics and wars.
Exposure is based on earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and riverine floodings, cyclones, droughts, and sea level rise. Vulnerability, has three dimensions: susceptibility, coping, and adaptation.
Susceptibility is the likelihood that populations will suffer damage from extreme natural events and enter a disaster situation, while coping is how societies counter the negative impacts of natural hazards and climate change. Adaptation is the long–term processes and strategies that countries take to counter, mitigate, or purposefully avoid future adverse impacts.
The countries with the lowest WRI are the following: Monaco - 0.18, Andorra - 0.28, San Marino - 0.35, Luxembourg - 0.6, Sao Tome and Principe - 0.67, Liechtenstein - 0.71, Belarus - 0.76, Singapore - 0.80, Qatar - 0.94, Bahrain - 0.94.
"During the coronavirus pandemic, psychosocial and economic stress increased worldwide. In countries that were affected by extreme natural events at the same time, these burdens intensified," the report said.
"One example is the Philippines, which was hit by 22 tropical cyclones during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Typhoon Goni (Super Typhoon Rolly in late October 2020), one of the strongest storms ever recorded. Not only led to a dramatic increase in humanitarian needs, but also had a negative impact on the mental health of the population," it added.
Source: Philippine Star
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