New Delhi: Germanwatch has released the Climate Risk Index 2026, placing India at the 9th position among countries most severely impacted by extreme weather events between 1995 and 2024. The index, introduced in 2006 as an annual global assessment of climate-induced disasters, reveals the mounting human and economic cost of a warming world, with 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record.
Presented at the ongoing COP30 in Belem, Brazil, this marks the second version of the report issued this year. It ranks nations based on fatalities, economic losses, and population affected by rapid-onset extreme weather events, including floods, storms, heatwaves, wildfires, glacial lake outbursts, and landslides. Slow-onset impacts such as rising mean temperatures, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and glacial retreat are excluded from the analysis.
Global Toll: 832,000 Deaths and $4.5 Trillion in Losses from 9,700 Events
Between 1995 and 2024, more than 9,700 extreme weather events claimed 832,000 lives and caused direct economic losses of nearly USD 4.5 trillion, adjusted for inflation. The hardest-hit countries are all in the Global South, underscoring the unequal burden of climate change.
Dominica tops the 30-year list, ravaged by repeated powerful hurricanes. Myanmar ranks second, with vulnerability to cyclones and floods intensified by Typhoon Tyagi in 2024, which placed it 9th for that year alone. Honduras, one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere, holds third place due to frequent hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, droughts, and landslides.
The full top 10 countries most affected from 1995 to 2024 are:
- Dominica
- Myanmar
- Honduras
- Libya
- Haiti
- Grenada
- Philippines
- Nicaragua
- India
- The Bahamas
Other major nations include China at 11th, Pakistan at 15th, and the United States at 18th. India ranked 15th in the CRI for 2024.
India’s 30-Year Climate Crisis: 430 Events, 80,000 Deaths, $170 Billion in Damage
India’s 9th ranking in the long-term Climate Risk Index 2026 reflects a relentless cycle of extreme weather. Over three decades, the country experienced nearly 430 disasters, including floods, landslides, cyclones, heatwaves, and droughts. These events killed more than 80,000 people, affected over 1.3 billion individuals, and caused inflation-adjusted economic losses of around $170 billion.
The 2024 monsoon was especially destructive, impacting more than 8 million people, mainly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tripura. Army personnel carried out extensive rescue and relief operations in flood-affected villages of Jamnagar, Gujarat, in August 2024.
Globally in 2024, flooding was the most widespread disaster, affecting nearly 50 million people, followed by heatwaves (33 million) and droughts (over 29 million). India ranked third worldwide in the number of people affected that year, behind Bangladesh and the Philippines. One of the deadliest events was Typhoon Trami in the Philippines in October, which killed over 100 people and displaced millions.
Continuous Threat Nations: India Among Most Vulnerable
Germanwatch classifies India, along with the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Haiti, under “continuous threats.” These countries face such frequent extreme weather that recovery is nearly impossible before the next event strikes. Cumulative impacts over time explain India’s high long-term ranking.
“Countries such as Haiti, the Philippines, and India – all of which are among the ten most affected countries in the CRI – face particular challenges. They are hit by floods, heatwaves, or storms so regularly that entire regions can hardly recover from the impacts until the next event strikes. When more funding to address loss and damage is negotiated here at COP, the focus is on countries like these. Without more long-term support – including for adapting to the climate crisis – they will face insurmountable challenges,” said Vera Künzel, senior advisor on climate change adaptation and human rights at Germanwatch.
Dominica, Myanmar, Honduras, and Libya are in an even higher risk category due to unusually extreme single events. In Myanmar, Cyclone Nargis in 2008 killed around 140,000 people, accounting for over 95% of the country’s fatalities in the 30-year period.
2024 Annual Rankings: Caribbean and Africa Hit Hardest
For 2024 alone, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was the worst-affected country, followed by Grenada and Chad. Myanmar ranked 9th due to Typhoon Tyagi, while India stood at 15th.
Data Gaps and the True Scale of Suffering
Germanwatch acknowledges significant data gaps, particularly in the Global South, meaning the actual frequency and severity of extreme weather events may be worse than reported. Despite these limitations, the index provides a robust framework for understanding climate risk distribution.
Urgent Call to Action at COP30
David Eckstein, senior advisor on climate finance and investments at Germanwatch, stated: “The results of the CRI 2026 clearly demonstrate that COP30 must find effective ways to close the global ambition gap. Global emissions have to be reduced immediately, otherwise, there is a risk of a rising number of deaths and economic disasters worldwide. At the same time, adaptation efforts must be accelerated. Effective solutions for loss and damage must be implemented, and adequate climate finance must be provided.”
The report stresses the need for enhanced funding for loss and damage, adaptation, and resilience, especially for nations under continuous threat. South Asian countries, including India, are pushing for stronger commitments at COP30.
Why India’s Ranking Matters
India’s position in the top 10 reflects not just historical impacts but ongoing vulnerability. Recurring disasters disrupt agriculture, strain infrastructure, threaten public health, and erode economic stability. The index’s focus on rapid-onset events complements broader climate discussions, highlighting the need for immediate mitigation and adaptation.
The Path Forward: Resilience, Finance, and Global Cooperation
Since its inception in 2006, the Climate Risk Index has served as a critical tool for policymakers. The 2026 edition, with its dual release this year, amplifies urgency at a pivotal moment in global climate negotiations.
For India, building resilience requires investment in early warning systems, climate-proof infrastructure, and disaster risk reduction. Internationally, closing the finance gap and accelerating emission cuts are non-negotiable.
The Climate Risk Index 2026 is more than a ranking—it is a roadmap. With 832,000 lives lost, $4.5 trillion in economic damage, and over 9,700 extreme events in just 30 years, the data demands action. India’s 9th place, driven by 430 disasters and $170 billion in losses, signals that the cost of inaction will only rise.
As extreme weather becomes the new normal, the world faces a defining choice: act decisively now or pay an ever-escalating price in human suffering and economic ruin.
FAQs
1. What is the Climate Risk Index 2026, and who publishes it?
The Climate Risk Index 2026 is an annual global assessment introduced by Germanwatch in 2006. It ranks countries based on human fatalities, economic losses, and population affected by rapid-onset extreme weather events like floods, storms, heatwaves, wildfires, and landslides. The 2026 edition, presented at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, is the second version released this year.
2. Which country was most affected by extreme weather between 1995 and 2024?
Dominica ranked #1 over the 30-year period, primarily due to repeated devastating hurricanes. Myanmar (#2) and Honduras (#3) follow, with India securing the 9th position.
3. How has India been impacted by extreme weather over the last 30 years according to CRI 2026?
India faced nearly 430 extreme weather events from 1995–2024, resulting in over 80,000 deaths, more than 1.3 billion people affected, and approximately $170 billion in inflation-adjusted economic losses. India ranked 15th in the 2024 annual CRI.
4. What were the top global impacts of extreme weather in 2024?
Flooding affected nearly 50 million people worldwide, followed by heatwaves (33 million) and droughts (over 29 million). Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was the worst-hit country in 2024, followed by Grenada and Chad. India ranked third in population affected.
5. Why does Germanwatch highlight “continuous threat” countries like India?
Nations such as India, the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Haiti face such frequent extreme weather events that communities have little time to recover before the next disaster. This cumulative impact drives high long-term rankings and underscores urgent needs for loss and damage funding and climate adaptation support.
