Global Climate Risk Index
Contents
Global Climate Risk Index:
The Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) is a retrospective, quantitative assessment that ranks countries based on their vulnerability and exposure to extreme weather events and climate-related disasters. It measures the human and economic consequences of climate-related disasters by analyzing fatalities, people affected, and economic losses caused by rapid-onset extreme weather events such as storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts. The index serves as a critical tool to contextualize international climate policy debates and highlight the urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Publisher and Timeline
The CRI is published annually by Germanwatch, an independent environmental and development non-governmental organization based in Germany. The index has been released continuously since 2006, making it one of the longest-running annual climate impact-related indices in the world. Each annual publication analyzes data from the preceding 30 years.
Methodology and Calculation
The CRI underwent a significant methodological revision in 2023 to better reflect evolving understanding of climate risk and vulnerability. The revised methodology analyzes extreme weather events’ impacts across three hazard categories: hydrological (floods, storm surges, mass movements), meteorological (storms, severe weather, tornadoes), and climatological (droughts, wildfires, cold/heat waves).
The index calculates country rankings based on six key indicators measured in absolute and relative terms:
Economic Loss Indicators: (1) Absolute losses in purchasing power parity (PPP); (2) Relative losses per unit of gross domestic product (GDP)
Human Impact Indicators: (3) Absolute fatalities (number of deaths); (4) Relative fatalities (deaths per 100,000 inhabitants); (5) Absolute affected people (injured, displaced, homeless); (6) Relative affected people (per 100,000 inhabitants)
The weighting formula prioritizes relative impacts (37.5% for relative economic losses and 37.5% for relative human losses) over absolute impacts (12.5% each), ensuring that smaller and poorer nations are not overshadowed by larger, wealthier countries in the rankings. Within the human loss indicator, fatalities are weighted at 60% and people affected at 40%.
The CRI score calculation employs the following formula:
CRI score = [3/5 (Absolute fatalities) + 2/5 (Absolute affectedness)] × 1/8 + [3/5 (Relative fatalities) + 2/5 (Relative affectedness)] × 3/8 + (Absolute losses) × 1/8 + (Relative losses) × 3/8
Data Sources and Coverage
From 2023 onwards, the CRI utilizes data from the EM-DAT international disaster database, supplemented by data from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The index covers 171 United Nations countries, organized into five regional groupings: Asia, Europe, Americas, Africa, and Oceania.
Prior to 2023, the index relied on Munich Re’s NatCatSERVICE database.
Global Impact Statistics
Between 1993 and 2022, extreme weather events resulted in devastating global consequences:
- Over 765,000 lives lost worldwide
- Direct economic losses exceeding USD 4.2 trillion (inflation-adjusted)
- More than 9,400 extreme weather events recorded
From 1995 to 2024, the figures show continued escalation:
- 832,000 deaths attributed to extreme weather
- USD 4.5 trillion in total economic losses
- 9,700+ documented extreme weather events
Storms and heatwaves each account for approximately one-third of fatalities globally, while floods affect nearly half of those impacted.
Key Findings: Most Affected Countries
The top 10 most affected countries from 1993-2022 are:
- Dominica
- China
- Honduras
- Myanmar
- Vanuatu
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Bangladesh
- El Salvador
- Italy
India ranks among the countries most affected over the long-term period. For the annual 2024 index, the top three most vulnerable nations were St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Chad.
Notably, while most severely affected countries are developing or lower-income nations, high-income countries including France (12th), Italy (16th), and the United States (18th) also feature in the top 30 most affected nations, demonstrating that climate impacts are not limited to developing economies.
India Ranks 9th in Global Climate Risk Index for Climate Disasters (1995-2024)
Overview: India has been ranked 9th among countries most affected by climate-related disasters over the past three decades, according to the 2025 Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) released by Germanwatch during the UN Climate Summit (COP30) in Belém, Brazil on November 11, 2025. This represents a slight improvement from India’s 8th place ranking in the 2023 assessment.
Key Statistics and Impact
Between 1995 and 2024, India has experienced a severe climate toll with devastating consequences:
- Fatalities: Over 80,000 lives lost, accounting for approximately 9.6% of the global death toll from extreme weather events
- Economic Losses: USD 170 billion in economic damages (inflation-adjusted)
- Number of Events: 430 extreme weather events recorded
- Population Affected: 1.3 billion people impacted by these disasters
- Annual Average Loss: USD 5.6 billion per year
In global context, between 1995 and 2024, over 9,700 extreme weather events occurred worldwide, resulting in more than 832,000 deaths and approximately USD 4.5 trillion in total economic losses.
Major Climate Disasters Affecting India
India’s vulnerability to climate hazards stems from multiple recurring disaster types:
Cyclones and Storms: Notable events include the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone, Cyclone Hudhud (2014), and Cyclone Amphan (2020), which devastated coastal areas and caused large-scale displacement and economic damage.
Floods and Monsoons: The Uttarakhand floods of 2013 caused unprecedented human and economic losses. The 2024 monsoon season displaced over 8 million people across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tripura. Assam and Bihar frequently face recurring flood events.
Heatwaves: Deadly heatwaves in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2015 claimed thousands of lives and posed serious health and agricultural risks. Recent heatwaves have pushed temperatures above 48-50°C in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Drought and Landslides: Heavy monsoon rains have triggered landslides, displacing millions and damaging agriculture across various regions.
Nature of Climate Threats
A critical finding of the CRI report is that India faces “continuous climate threats” rather than isolated disasters. This means communities suffer from frequent extreme events with insufficient time to recover before the next disaster strikes, creating a perpetual cycle that hinders sustainable development and economic progress.
According to the report, between 1995 and 2024, storms accounted for 33% of total fatalities and 58% of economic losses, while heatwaves caused 33% of fatalities. Floods affected half of all victims, underscoring the urgent need for improved flood management and early warning systems.
Improvement in Rankings and Resilience Efforts
Despite facing recurring climate challenges, India has shown measurable progress in its climate resilience and disaster management capabilities. The country improved from 10th place to 15th in the 2024 annual index, reflecting better disaster preparedness and early warning systems.
This improvement is attributed to several government-led initiatives:
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Comprising eight missions focused on energy efficiency, solar power, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem conservation.
State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs): Localized implementation of climate adaptation strategies tailored to regional vulnerabilities.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): A global initiative headquartered in India promoting infrastructure resilience against climate-related disasters and leading international efforts in disaster risk reduction.
Strengthened Early Warning Systems: Enhanced forecasting capabilities for floods, cyclones, and heatwaves enabling better preparedness and response.
Global Context
India’s ranking places it among the most vulnerable nations globally, with approximately 40% of the world’s population—over three billion people—living in the 11 countries most severely affected by climate disasters. Among the top 10 most-affected nations, none are wealthy industrialized countries; they are predominantly developing or emerging economies.
The top three most-affected countries over the long-term (1995-2024) are Dominica, Myanmar, and Honduras. However, industrialized nations such as France (12th), Italy (16th), and the United States (18th) also rank among the 30 most affected countries, indicating that no economy is entirely immune from climate risks.
For the year 2024 specifically, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Chad were the most severely impacted nations.
Road Ahead: Challenges and Imperatives
While India’s improved ranking reflects growing institutional capacity and climate awareness, significant challenges remain:
Persistent vulnerability requires sustained investment in green infrastructure, renewable energy adoption, and ecosystem restoration. The development gains achieved by India continue to be eroded by climate disasters, pushing vulnerable communities into cycles of poverty and displacement.
Experts stress that the gap between climate planning and implementation must be narrowed, with greater emphasis on translating adaptation plans into concrete action. International climate finance and technology transfer remain critical for enabling India to build robust, climate-resilient infrastructure that can withstand increasing climate extremes.
India’s experience demonstrates the urgent need for global emissions reduction and enhanced international cooperation on climate justice, ensuring that developing nations receive adequate support to manage climate impacts while pursuing sustainable development.
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