About the Index
The World Risk Index (WRI) is the centrepiece of the annual World Risk Report, published by the German alliance Bundnis Entwicklung Hilft in collaboration with the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) at Ruhr University Bochum.
The WRI measures disaster risk for 193 countries based on three main components:
- Exposure — a country’s exposure to climate-related natural hazards (earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts, sea-level rise)
- Vulnerability / Susceptibility — how susceptible a population is to damage from these hazards (infrastructure, nutrition, housing, economic conditions)
- Lack of Coping and Adaptive Capacities — ability of governance, healthcare systems, and social structures to respond to and recover from disasters
A higher WRI score indicates greater disaster risk. The index ranges from 0 (no risk) to a theoretical maximum of 100.
India’s Performance
WRI 2025 (Latest Edition — Released September 2025)
India ranked 2nd globally with a WRI score of 40.73, moving up one position from 3rd in 2024. India is now the second most disaster-prone country in the world, behind only the Philippines.
The 2025 report’s special focus is on Floods — how increasing flood risk driven by climate change and land-use changes compounds vulnerability, particularly in densely populated river basins.
Top 5 Highest-Risk Countries (WRI 2025)
| Rank | Country | WRI Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philippines | 45.56 |
| 2 | India | 40.73 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 39.80 |
| 4 | Colombia | — |
| 5 | Mexico | — |
Among G20 nations, India (2nd) and Indonesia (3rd) are the two most at-risk countries.
India’s high rank is driven by enormous exposure to multiple climate hazards — Himalayan flash floods, Bay of Bengal cyclones, peninsular droughts, and Himalayan earthquakes — combined with the vulnerability of its large rural population and infrastructure gaps.
WRI 2024 (Previous Edition — Released September 2024)
| Rank | Country | WRI Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philippines | 46.91 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 41.13 |
| 3 | India | 40.96 |
2024 theme: Multiple Crises — how climate-related disasters interact with armed conflict, food insecurity, and displacement.
Key Highlights
- India moved from 3rd (2024) to 2nd (2025) — now the second most disaster-prone country globally
- The Philippines has held the #1 spot for multiple consecutive years
- WRI 2025 is the first edition to include all 193 UN member states
- Monaco, Andorra, and Liechtenstein have the lowest disaster risk scores globally
- 8 of 10 highest-risk countries are in Asia and the Americas
- 2025 report calls for flood-resilient infrastructure and improved early warning systems
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: WRI issuing body (Bundnis Entwicklung Hilft + IFHV, Ruhr University Bochum); WRI 2025: India 2nd/193 (score 40.73), Philippines 1st; WRI 2024: India 3rd/193 (score 40.96); three components (Exposure, Vulnerability, Coping Capacity); 2025 theme: Floods Mains GS-1: Physical geography — India’s disaster-prone regions, impact of climate change on natural hazards Mains GS-3: Disaster management, NDMA, SDMA, Sendai Framework for DRR (2015–2030), climate adaptation, flood-resilient infrastructure Interview: “India is the second most disaster-prone country globally. What structural reforms in disaster governance would you recommend given the escalating flood risk?”
