Manila, September 28, 2026: The Philippines has once again been identified as the country with the highest disaster risk among 193 countries in the 2026 WorldRiskIndex, highlighting the country’s continued exposure to extreme weather and other natural hazards.

The Philippines recorded a WorldRiskIndex score of 46.69, remaining at the top of the global ranking for a second consecutive year. India recorded 44.97, while Indonesia followed with 44.63.

What the Index Measures

The WorldRiskIndex does not simply count how many disasters occur in a country. It combines exposure to natural hazards with societal vulnerability and the ability to cope with and adapt to disasters.

The assessment considers hazards including tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts and sea-level rise.

Storms Are the Focus of the 2026 Report

This year’s WorldRiskReport places particular emphasis on storms and examines why similar weather events can produce very different consequences in different countries.

According to the report, the severity of a disaster depends not only on the physical strength of a storm but also on infrastructure, preparedness, early-warning systems, healthcare, governance and communities’ ability to recover.

Geographic Exposure

The Philippines faces multiple natural hazards because of its geographic position.

The country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, exposing it to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Its position in the western Pacific also places it directly in the path of tropical cyclones, while heavy rainfall can trigger flooding and landslides.

Focus on Climate Adaptation

The latest ranking has renewed attention on the need for stronger disaster-preparedness measures in the Philippines.

Key areas highlighted by the report include resilient infrastructure, early-warning systems, emergency response, social protection, ecosystem protection and long-term climate adaptation.

The Philippines also topped the 2025 WorldRiskIndex, when its score was 46.56. The increase to 46.69 in 2026 means the country remains at the highest level of overall disaster risk in the index.

Why the Findings Matter

The report illustrates an important aspect of climate and disaster risk: exposure alone does not determine the consequences of an extreme event. Countries with stronger infrastructure, preparedness and response systems can sometimes reduce the human and economic impact of similar hazards.

For the Philippines, the latest findings underline the importance of continuing investment in climate adaptation and disaster resilience as extreme weather events remain a major challenge.