The 20 Cities Most Vulnerable to Flooding (2024)

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A study published in Nature Climate Change, has compiled a list of cities most vulnerable to coastal flooding. Taking in consideration elevation, population distribution and available flood protection from 136 coastal cities worldwide, in addition to forecasts of sea level rise and ground sinking due to groundwater depletion, the study determines that if no mitigating steps are taken, coastal flooding will cause damage totaling $1 trillion annually by the year 2050.

Topping the list as the most vulnerable city is Guangzhou, China, followed by Mumbai and Kolkata in India, Guayaquil, Ecuador and Shenzen, China. Almost all cities at the highest risk of flooding damage were in North America or Asia.

The top 20 most vulnerable cities are:

1. Guangzhou, China
2. Mumbai, India
3. Kolkata, India
4. Guayaquil, Ecuador
5. Shenzen, China
6. Miami, Florida, USA
7. Tianjin, China
8. New York, New York — Newark, New Jersey, USA
9. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
10. New Orleans, Louisiana
11. Jakarta, Indonesia
12. Abidjan, Ivory Coast
13. Chennai, India
14. Surat, India
15. Zhanjiang, China
16. Tampa—St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
17. Boston, Massachusetts, USA
18. Bangkok, Thailand
19. Xiamen, China
20. Nagoya, Japan

To learn more, read the full article on Live Science and review the study on Nature Climate Change.