Facts and Figures


Urban Challenges



2014
5.3 billion
euros a year
2050
40 billion
euros a year
By 2050, the annual cost of flood damage in Europe could reach 40 billion euros. This is 7 times more than in 2014.

ec.europa.eu
People exposed to natural hazards in the poorest nations are more than seven times more likely to die than equivalent populations in the richest nations.

— Economic Losses, Poverty & Disasters: 1998-2017, UNISDR
Every year, an estimated 26 million people are pushed intopoverty by natural disasters.

— World Bank.
Disasters cause around $300 billion in economic losses annually. If we account for impacts on well-being, the total is more like $520 billion.

— World Bank.
By 2050 in the regions of Sub-Sahara Africa, South Asia and Latina America climate change could force more than 143 million people to move within their countries.

— World Bank, Groundswell: Preparing for internal climate migration (Report).
Internal climate migrants are rapidly becoming the human face of climate change.

— World Bank, Groundswell: Preparing for internal climate migration (Report).
By 2050, estimates predict that 70% or more of the population will live in cities. 60% of new urban settlements are yet to be build, representing a huge opportunity.

— (UN-Habitat, World Cities Report)
18 out of the 20 biggest cities in the world and 88% of the global population are in the northern hemisphere where temperatures are rising fastest.

— (EM-DAT database).
By 2030, without significant investment into making cities more resilient, natural disasters may cost cities worldwide $314 billion each year, up from around $250 billion today, and climate change may push up to 77 million more urban residents into poverty.

— (World Bank)
The top 600 cities, with 1/5th of the world’s population, produce 60% of global GDP.

— (UN-Habitat, World Cities Report).
By 2030, global demand for energy and water is expected to grow by 40 and 50 per cent respectively.

— (UN Water, Water and Jobs: Facts and Figures)
It is estimated that 200 million people worldwide live along coastlines less than 5 metres above sea level.

— (World Ocean Review)
One hundred and eight countries and territories (50% of the world) were hit by disasters in 2016.

- (Annual Disaster Statistics Review 2016)
Over the last decade, China, the United States, India, the Philippines and Indonesia constitute the top 5 countries most frequently hit by natural disasters.

— (Annual Disaster Statistics Review 2015)
River flooding poses a threat to over 379 million urban residents, with earthquake and strong winds potentially affecting 283 million and 157 million respectively.

— (GAR 2015)
Thirteen of the most populated cities in the world are coastal trading hubs that are vital in global supply chains.

— (Absolute Strategy Reseach)
Some 15% of the world’s population live in fragile and conflict-affected countries.

— (World Bank)
Tropical cyclone winds pose a threat to 1.6 billion people in 89 countries, up from one billion in 1975.

— (EC Science Hub)
By 2030, 325 million extremely poor people will be living in the 49 countries that are most prone to hazards.

— (ODI, The geography of poverty, disasters and climate extremes in 2030)
Global average annual losses from disasters in the built environment are now estimated at USD 314 billion and can increase to USD 415 billion by 2030, due to investment requirements in urban infrastructure.

— (UNISDR)
Up to 77 million urban residents could fall back into poverty by 2030 in a likely scenario of high climate impacts and inequitable economic growth.

— (World Bank)
Estimates suggest there are at least 19 million internally displaced persons and more than 10 million refugees living in urban areas globally.

— (World Bank)