Millions of people around the globe are affected by natural disasters each year. Extreme natural events, such as floods, storms, or earthquakes, remote communities more vulnerable and increase the probability of forced displacement and migration.
In addition to the natural disasters, the lack of coping and adaptive capabilities from authorities magnifies the risks associated with the affected communities becoming more susceptible to experiencing serious consequences in the aftermath of a disastrous event.
Having in mind the connection between the occurred disaster and the authorities’ ability to intervene and mitigate its consequences, DevelopmentAid’s article brings an overview of the TOP-10 safest countries to live in if a natural disaster occurs.
How is natural disaster risk measured around the world?
There are several methodologies to estimate the risks around the world. One of them – the WorldRiskReport (WRR) is an annual paper prepared by the Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft (and the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV). It offers a global perspective on disaster risk, focusing on prevention and adaptation to save lives and cut costs.
At the foundation of WRR is the WorldRiskIndex (WRI), which uses a total of 27 indicators grouped into five different components to rank 193 countries based on the risk of disaster that they face.
However, its authors note that they faced a number of challenges when developing the report, including the updating of some indicators due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing armed conflicts.
The five components that shape the classification of the countries and regions in the WRR are:
✔️ Exposure – refers to the percentage of the population impacted by one or several natural hazards, including earthquakes, cyclones, droughts, tsunamis, floods, and sea-level rise.
✔️ Vulnerability – encompasses the socio-economic, infrastructural, and environmental factors that contribute to the exposure of a community or area to the effects of natural hazards.
✔️ Susceptibility – refers to the probability of a community or area suffering from the aftermath of a natural event due to the aspects of public infrastructure or socio-economic conditions (e.g., poverty, malnutrition).
✔️ Coping Capacities – represent the community’s abilities to deal with the effects of a natural disaster, minimize negative impacts, and speed up recovery. For the purposes of WRI, the opposite value is used and specifically the lack of coping capacities.
✔️ Adaptive Capacities – refers to long-term strategies for adaptation, like investments in education, disaster preparedness, and climate mitigation. For the purpose of WRI, the opposite value is used, specifically the lack of adaptive capacities.
Natural disaster risk hotspots and global overview
As mentioned earlier, the WorldRiskIndex 2025 assesses disaster risk in 193 countries, encompassing all United Nations member states and more than 99% of the current 8.2 billion world population.
In a nutshell, throughout 2025, the natural disaster risk hotspots will remain centered in Asia and the Americas. However, Africa remains the most vulnerable region on the globe, with more than 80% of the entire continent being defined as being “High-” or “Very high-risk” regions.
The Philippines, a nation known for its high geographic fragmentation (the division of one area into smaller, isolated pieces) and high susceptibility to weather-related extremes, is yet again at the top of the WorldRiskIndex this year. Notably, the Philippines topped the list in 2022 and has maintained its position ever since.
Which natural disaster is the most destructive?
While the WorldRiskIndex treats the seven major natural disasters equally (earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, cyclones (tropical storms/typhoons), droughts and sea-level rise, the 2025 edition identifies flooding as the most frequent and destructive hazard.
Approximately 1.6 billion people were impacted by floods between 2000 and 2019, costing the global economy approximately US$650 billion, the report outlines.
While the latest report focuses on floods, at the same time it broadly examines the connections between natural hazards, climate change, vulnerability, and resilience-building.
Flood disasters are caused by both natural and man-made factors, including land use, urbanization, and climate change. The likelihood of vulnerability is increased by uneven socioeconomic systems and damage to the environment.
The 2025 WorldRiskReport: which are the safest countries in the world?
The causes and forms of the risks for natural disasters are various but geographically concentrated. Those can relate to droughts, floods, earthquakes, storms, volcanic eruptions, and sea-level rise.
Source: WorldRiskIndex 2025
These are the top 10 safest countries in the world when it comes to natural disasters:
Remember: The lower the country’s exposure, the better
Source: WorldRiskIndex 2025
10. Qatar – (WRI 0.88)
This Arabian Peninsula country boasts a very low exposure (0.11), with minor threats from major natural disasters.
The country’s vulnerability is low (7.12), driven by low susceptibility (8.08) and high coping capacities (2.73), assisted by developed infrastructure and economic resources.
9. Bahrain – (WRI 0.87)
This island country, located in the Persian Gulf, has minimal exposure (0.14) to risks such as sea-level rise or floods.
In addition, its low vulnerability (5.45) comes from low susceptibility (7.13) and coping deficiencies (2.66), which are supported by a high level of development and adaptive measures (8.55).
8. Belarus – (WRI 0.72)
This landlocked country, located in Eastern Europe, boasts extremely low exposure (0.05) to hazards like earthquakes or tsunamis.
Its vulnerability is moderate-low (10.44), with balanced susceptibility (10.14) and coping (2.95), but higher adaptive gaps (38.02).
The country ranks eighth due to regional factors as it is landlocked and located on a stable tectonic plate, and government disaster management measures.
7. Liechtenstein – (WRI 0.68)
This landlocked microstate, located in Europe between Austria and Switzerland, is one of the safest countries from natural disasters, having a very low exposure (0.09), and being shielded against widespread hazards thanks to its geographical location in the Alps.
It also has very low vulnerability (5.07), which is due to minimal susceptibility (6.63) and excellent coping capacities (0.98).
While it’s mostly safe from forest fires and strong earthquakes, the nation still faces risks linked to mountain-related issues such as avalanches and rockfalls.
6. Singapore – (WRI 0.67)
Even though it has a very dense urban population, this Southeast Asian city-state boasts low exposure (0.15), which is mostly due to its effective hazard mitigation.
In addition, it has an exceptionally low vulnerability (2.99) because of low susceptibility (3.92), coping (0.86), and adaptive capacities (7.94), supported by forward-thinking risk-mitigation planning. The country is located in a low seismic-hazard area, plus it has a strong national tsunami response plan.
5. São Tomé and Príncipe – (WRI 0.61)
Located in the Atlantic Ocean, some 300 km West of the African continent, in the Gulf of Guinea, this island nation has low exposure (0.02) to major risks, according to the report. Moderate vulnerability (18.86) is counterbalanced by low susceptibility (9.76), while higher coping deficiencies (12.99) and adaptive deficits (52.92) illustrate that there are definitely areas for improvement in resilience.
It should be noted, however, that despite the low overall WRI rank, the country is extremely susceptible to risks such as floods along rivers and coasts, as well as sea level rise.
In comparison to other regions of the world, it is less exposed to certain other extreme events (like earthquakes), hence the low WRI score. However, due to poor infrastructure, it still faces serious difficulties in managing and adapting to the risks it does encounter.
4. Luxembourg – (WRI 0.57)
Luxembourg is a small landlocked European nation that boasts a very low exposure (0.06) to natural events.
It also has low vulnerability (5.48), which comes from minimal susceptibility (5.35) and coping issues (3.09), with strong adaptive capacities (9.98) due to the nation’s high level of development.
3. San Marino – (WRI 0.35)
Because of its inland location, this European micronation (the fifth smallest country in the world), enclaved in the Italian peninsula, has minimal exposure (0.03) and very low vulnerability (4.08), which is supported by low susceptibility (3.06) and coping (1.30), with moderate adaptive capacities (17.08).
All of these prove why this is the third safest country in the world when it comes to natural disaster risks.
Through training, research, and global cooperation on disaster medicine and geological risks, San Marino continues to strengthen its natural risk resilience.
2. Andorra – (WRI 0.29)
Found between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains, this nation has a very low exposure (0.02) to hazards.
It also boasts low vulnerability (4.07), which comes from minimal susceptibility (3.08) and coping deficiencies (1.80), supported by strong regional adaptive measures (12.17).
Its location helps the country to minimize risks from large-scale floods and earthquakes, and yet the nation’s mountainous terrain makes it vulnerable to landslides and avalanches.
1. Monaco – (WRI 0.18)
Monaco is a coastal microstate in Europe, considered to be the safest country in the world, having the lowest exposure (0.02) and vulnerability (1.55) globally, with very low susceptibility (1.75), coping deficiencies (0.42), and adaptive gaps (5.05).
All the metrics from the 2025 report indicate a strong level of urban resilience and minimal hazard threats. For instance, Monaco boasts one of the lowest risks of river and urban flooding, and is at no risk whatsoever from being affected by cyclones or volcanoes.
For the most part, the nation is shielded from powerful natural calamities like hurricanes, tsunamis, and large seismic events because it lies tucked between the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps.
In addition, the principality features efficient drainage systems to handle severe rainfall and enforces stringent building rules for earthquake resilience.
Natural risk prevention
To prevent and mitigate the impact of extreme weather events and natural hazards, every nation should rely on certain multidimensional approaches. The 2025 World Risk Report highlights these measures:
1️⃣ Strengthen governance structures (both local and international)
Effective local measures and decentralized structures can help countries to prevent and/or deal with the consequences of natural disasters. These include:
Implementing legal regulations at the municipal level so that every department and worker knows their competencies which is vital for efficient resource distribution and decision-making.
Set up regional competence centers for risk management to document and share local knowledge, with consistent financing.
Set up minimum standards for community preparedness, such as:
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- Technical specifications for natural solutions
- Mandatory community-engagement processes
- Open reporting overseen by independent organizations with sanctioning mechanisms
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2️⃣ Technological innovation
Create transnational data infrastructures with real-time access to satellite data, as well as analysis platforms that specific legal entities can use.
Create hybrid warning systems that mix artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and local knowledge.
Promote universal access, allowing all parties to use the necessary apps, mapping, and community-based data collection.
3️⃣ Systemic implementation of nature-based solutions
To reduce hazards and increase biodiversity, encourage practices such as renaturation, mangroves, wetlands, unsealing, planting trees, and water retention.
In addition, use innovative techniques to restore private land for flood risk reduction.
4️⃣ Urban water retention (sponge city principle)
Since the report particularly focuses on flood prevention, it outlines the importance of adopting the “sponge city” approach in cities and municipalities.
Sponge city is a term that describes an urban planning model that involves the use of natural and green infrastructure to absorb, store, and purify rainwater, operating like a sponge to control floods and droughts.
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