Natural Hazards Risk Atlas 2011: Nations Most Exposed To Natural Disasters (PHOTOS)

The United States may have to grapple with the highest overall costs for natural disasters, but other emerging nations face other social and economic risks, according to a new report.

Released Wednesday by British risk analysis firm Maplecroft, the 2011 Natural Hazards Risk Atlas ranks 196 countries based on economic exposure to disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis and floods.

As the AFP is reporting, both the U.S. and Japan were deemed at "extreme risk" with regard to overall costs from a natural disaster, but emerging economies pose a greater risk to investors simply due to lack of capacity to combat environmental and social impacts.

“The emerging economies, although buoyant with growth, lack the socio-economic conditions to limit their disaster risk. This lack of resilience could threaten their economic growth and the extent to which businesses with operations there hope to flourish,” Maplecroft CEO Alyson Warhurst said in a press release.

So far, 2011's natural hazards -- from Japan's devastating tsunami to the deadly tornadoes throughout much of the U.S. -- have been more costly to the world economy than any other year on record, contributing to a massive $265 billion total for the first six months of the year, according to Maplecroft officials.

View more information about the report, including additional rankings, here.

View a selection of countries and see how their economic exposure ranks below:

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#1 - United States

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comments(23)

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Comments

[Brenda Pachnot]

11:40 AM on 08/22/2011

Are these natural or man made? There is a thin line between the two:

http://greenplanetethics.com/wordpress/man-made-disasters-list-causes-and-effects-of-man-made-environmental-disasters-part-1/
http://greenplanetethics.com/wordpress/man-made-disasters-list-part-2-the-dust-bowl-man-made-disaster/
http://greenplanetethics.com/wordpress/mountaintop-removal-mining-man-made-disasters-causes-and-effects-part-3/

[Rushour1]

11:34 PM on 08/15/2011

There must be a mistake. Taiwan is part of China, but here they have them listed as if they were two separate nations. Strange.

[ginger85]

03:52 PM on 08/15/2011

and people talk about Canada's extreme weather condictions, which is hardly extreme at all, especially when compared to other countries.

[Hard2kill]

11:40 PM on 08/14/2011

This report is fake... where is the Philippines?

[greyhound2]

02:26 PM on 08/14/2011

This year in the United States has seen record snow falls on the east coast, flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. Also, the number of earthquakes is amazing, with Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, Japan and Chile again. Scary.

[eaarth2]

05:33 AM on 08/14/2011

Interesting to see we are number 1 on the list. Why? Large nation, with various climate zones- where is Russia has only 3 climate zones at best.

The American Gulf coast and southeast Atlantic very vulnerable to Hurricanes. Tornadoes in the heartland. Earthquakes and fires on the Pacific coast. Increasing drought and arid conditions in the south, lower Great Plains, & Texas.

[leftyirishwoman]

01:56 PM on 08/13/2011

We're number one! We're number one!

Please make sure the Teabag-GOP goes through with their plans to cut funds for NOAA and NASA, and the US death toll from these floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes will make them give a darn.)

[FancyAmerican]

11:50 PM on 08/12/2011

The risk factor isn't what matters, it's how the nation can handle the situation that matters.

Haiti would rank higher than the US if that's what was taken into consideration.

[SkiingGator]

12:12 AM on 08/13/2011

The risks in the US are monetary for the most part. Lives are at a much greater risk in places like Haiti

[FancyAmerican]

11:15 AM on 08/13/2011

Exactly. This article is silly.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

09:35 PM on 08/12/2011

that shirtless man is no disaster.

[FancyAmerican]

11:50 PM on 08/12/2011

Very true!

[clarendon67]

06:15 PM on 08/12/2011

I did not see Bangladesh on the list.

[palinsnuts]

10:28 PM on 08/12/2011

Nothing to destroy there.

[Farsha]

11:09 AM on 08/15/2011

I guess human lives have some value even in your eyes. If not please let us know

[tnj55]

05:11 PM on 08/12/2011

U-S-A!!
U-S-A!!
U-S-A!!
We're number 1!!

[fds]

04:26 PM on 08/12/2011

This is an EXTREMELY idiotic HP post.

[BernieSanders4President]

04:22 PM on 08/12/2011

How do Haiti and Somalia have a low threat level??

[Mondayboy]

04:48 PM on 08/12/2011

We are talking about natural catastrophes.....not man-made CATs

[SkiingGator]

12:13 AM on 08/13/2011

Economic impacts to business

[Lohikaarme]

02:58 PM on 08/12/2011

We are assured to be number one in the natural hazards risk table as long as we have the current democrats and republicans ruining our country.

[StJames]

03:53 PM on 08/12/2011

There is nothing "natural" about our congress critters.  They are man made disasters.  :-)

[Greatest Darthfruit]

02:52 PM on 08/12/2011

hey, the whole Australian continent, as is surrounded by oceans and seas, is very prone to natural disasters