WorldRiskReport 2025: Billions threatened by flooding

BERLIN/BOCHUM, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 24 September 2025 – The WorldRiskReport 2025 by
Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft and the
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum focuses on flooding. Between 2000 and 2019, more than 1.6 billion people were affected and economic damage exceeded US $650 billion, particularly in low-income countries.

Holistic prevention

The report analyzes flood preparedness from four perspectives:

Political: Stronger local governance, coordinated prevention

Technological: Early warnings, AI, satellite data

Social: Traditional knowledge, community-based approaches

Ecological: Nature-based solutions like mangroves, wetlands, river restoration

Dr. Ilona Auer Frege, Managing Director of Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft, emphasizes:
“Every euro spent on prevention saves many times that amount in aid and reconstruction.
Instead of reacting, we must act preventively.”

Global analysis of flood risk

For the first time, the report presents a world map of global flood risk and reveals how inadequate preparedness can have devastating consequences, even in highly developed countries.

For the Philippines, flood exposure was calculated at provincial level for the first time, revealing hotspots and highlighting the importance of local risk analyses.

Philippines tops the risk rankings

The WorldRiskIndex assesses the disaster risk of all 193 UN member states. In 2025, the global risk hotspots are again in Asia and Latin America. The top 10 countries with the highest risk are:

Philippines

India

Indonesia

Colombia

Mexico

Myanmar

Mozambique

Russian Federation

China

Pakistan

Press kit

Find the full report, world maps and info grafics in our press kit. Other formats are available on request. You can find all data sets on our
website. All experts featured in the report are available for media inquiries.
Download the press kit now.

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