India stands ninth among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, according to the latest Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 report by Germanwatch. From 1995 to 2024, the country endured nearly 430 extreme weather events, resulting in over 80,000 fatalities and impacting 1.3 billion people. Economic losses topped $170 billion (about ₹14 lakh crore), underscoring the mounting toll of human-induced climate change.
The report, released Tuesday at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, analyzes rapid-onset disasters like floods, cyclones, droughts, and heatwaves. It highlights India’s “continuous threat” from recurring events, eroding development gains and endangering livelihoods for millions. The nation’s large population and monsoon dependency amplify its risks, with millions affected annually.
In 2024 alone, heavy monsoon rains and flash floods struck Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tripura, impacting 8 million people. Globally, over 9,700 events from 1995-2024 killed more than 832,000, affected 5.7 billion, and caused $4.5 trillion in damages. Floods and storms dominated losses worldwide.
Key disasters boosting India’s ranking include the 1998 Gujarat cyclone, 1999 Odisha super cyclone, 2013 Uttarakhand floods, and recent deadly heatwaves. These events, intensified by climate change, have turned rare extremes into a “new normal.”
Developing nations bear the brunt due to limited adaptation resources. The 2024 El Niño worsened patterns, but human emissions remain the root cause. Germanwatch urges COP30 leaders to boost climate finance, cut emissions, and prioritize early warnings and community protection in vulnerable areas like India.
Top 10 Most Affected Countries (1995-2024):
| Rank | Country |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dominica |
| 2 | Myanmar |
| 3 | Honduras |
| 4 | Libya |
| 5 | Haiti |
| 6 | Grenada |
| 7 | Philippines |
| 8 | Nicaragua |
| 9 | India |
| 10 | Bahamas |
