Population, area and economy affected by a 1m sea level rise (global and regional estimates, based on today's situation)
Even for today’s socio-economic conditions, both regionally and globally, large numbers of people and significant economic activity are exposed to sea-level rise. The densely populated megadeltas are especially vulnerable to sea-level rise. More than 1 million people living in the Ganges- Brahmaputra, Mekong and Nile deltas will be directly affected simply if current rates of sea-level rise continue to 2050 and there is no adaptation. More than 50 000 people are likely to be directly impacted in each of a further nine deltas, and more than 5000 in each of a further 12 deltas. Some 75 per cent of the population affected live on the Asian megadeltas and deltas, with a large proportion of the remainder living on deltas in Africa. These impacts would increase dramatically with accelerated sea-level rise. The economy part of this graphic represents the annual share of economy in this zone, in GDP (market exchange rates).
Year: 2016
From collection: Global Outlook for Ice and Snow
Cartographer: Hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal