Climate Risk Index (CRI)

According to the latest Climate Risk Index report, India ranks sixth among the top 10 countries most affected by extreme weather events during 1993–2023. The CRI has been published since 2006 and is one of the longest-running annual climate impact-related indices. It analyses the degree of impact of climate-related extreme weather events and measures the consequences of realised risks on countries. This backward-looking index ranks countries by economic and human impacts, including fatalities, people affected, injured, and displaced. The findings are based on data from the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) and socio-economic data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is published by Germanwatch, an independent development, environmental, and human rights organisation based in Bonn and Berlin.

Highlights

India was among the 10 countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1993 and 2022, accounting for 10% of global fatalities and 4.3% of global economic damage. It was ranked sixth in the Climate Risk Index 2025, indicating high vulnerability to the climate crisis. Dominica, China, Honduras, Myanmar, and Italy ranked ahead of India. India experienced more than 400 extreme weather events, resulting in losses worth $180 billion and at least 80,000 fatalities. Major events included repeated floods (1993, 1998, 2013), severe heatwaves (2002, 2003, 2015), and cyclones.