Climate Action

Which countries will be most affected by rising sea levels?

Joe Myers
Writer, Forum Stories

China will be most affected by rising sea levels caused by global warming, according to a new report from Climate Central.

The report assesses the impact of sea level rises caused by 2 and 4 degrees Celsius global temperature increases. The following chart, using Climate Central’s data, shows the 2010 population (in millions) who will be affected by the median locked-in sea level rise from the two different temperature increases.

1511B37-countries affected sea level rise china india bangladesh

With a 2 degree rise in temperature, 64m people in China, based on the 2010 population, would be living in areas submerged by rising seas. However, with a 4 degree rise this jumps to 145m people. China is followed in second place by India, with 20m and 55m respectively. India’s neighbour, Bangladesh, completes the top three most at risk.

The list is dominated by Asian nations with Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines all appearing. The only other nations to feature are the US in 7th, Egypt in 9th and Brazil in 10th.

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Author: Joe Myers is a Digital Content Producer at Formative Content.

Image: Splinters of ice peel off from one of the sides of the Perito Moreno glacier in a process of a unexpected rupture during the southern hemisphere’s winter months, near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, southern Argentina, July 7, 2008.  REUTERS/Andres Forza

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