The Philippines faces the highest disaster risk in the world, according to the 2026 World Risk Report, which placed the country at the top of its ranking of 193 United Nations member states.
The country received a disaster-risk score of 46.69, reflecting the combined impact of its exposure to natural hazards and its vulnerability to disasters. The report was published by German research institutes, which pointed to the country’s location and overlapping threats as major factors behind its standing.
Multiple Hazards Raise the Country’s Risk
The Philippines recorded the highest exposure scores in five of the seven hazard categories evaluated in the report, including storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal flooding, and sea-level rise.
Its scores reached 89.71 for storms, 73.15 for earthquakes, 69.66 for tsunamis, 58.14 for coastal flooding, and 60.17 for sea-level rise.
The report linked the country’s high exposure to its position within the Western Pacific typhoon belt, where powerful storms regularly threaten communities. Its vulnerability to these hazards further contributes to the overall risk.
Philippines Leads in Storm-Related Threats
Aside from topping the overall disaster-risk index, the Philippines also ranked first in storm risk. Mexico, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Japan followed in the category.
Daniel Weller of the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict emphasized that severe storms are a persistent challenge for the country, citing an exposure score of 40.76 and a vulnerability score of 53.49 in his assessment of storm risk.
“A very high exposure score of 40.76 and a vulnerability score of 53.49 also reflect the country’s significant exposure to storms: extremely powerful storms are not the exception here, but a structural reality,” Weller said.
The findings highlight the need for sustained efforts to protect people and communities regularly exposed to destructive weather conditions.
Early Warnings, Financial Aid Seen as Key Measures
To address storm-related risks, the report called for more effective early warning systems, wider access to social protection and financial assistance, and disaster preparedness strategies that combine formal programs with community-based practices.
These steps could help communities prepare before disasters strike and improve their ability to respond and recover.
India ranked second in the overall index with a score of 44.97, followed by Indonesia at 44.63, Colombia at 39.80, Mexico at 39.18, Myanmar at 37.51, Mozambique at 30.92, the Russian Federation at 30.58, China at 29.54, and Somalia at 29.12.
