New Delhi: Many countries face the wrath of natural disasters, whereas just a few in the world have to see less of the fury of natural disasters. Since the beginning of 2024, the world has been hit by different natural disasters, from the Japan earthquake to the recent cyclone in India. These natural disasters have caused damage not just to lives but also to the infrastructure and economics of the countries. However, there are the safest countries as well; not only are these places astray from the risk of disasters, but they are also prepared to deal with anything that comes their way. In this article, let’s look at these countries regarded as the safest, showcasing their resilience and preparedness.
Countries with the least risk of natural disasters
Rank
Country
Risk Score
1
Andorra
0.22
2
Monaco
0.24
3
San Marino
0.36
4
Singapore
0.63
5
Luxembourg
0.64
6
Sao Tome and Principe
0.67
7
Liechtenstein
0.72
8
Belarus
0.75
9
Bahrain
0.87
Andorra
Andorra, located 400 miles from Monaco, is a landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula and the 16th smallest country in the world. Like Monaco, Andorra, with a population of less than 80,000, has substantial wealth because of its strong banking sector and low taxes. These factors make an ideal environment for natural disaster management, and the strong economy makes the country strong in managing damages and disasters. Andorra has a disaster risk index of 0.22 as per WorldRiskIndex.
Monaco
Because of its strong economy and immense wealth, if a natural disaster were to happen, Monaco would quickly cope with and adapt to it. In the disaster risk index (WRI) of 0.24, this is the second least affected country by natural disasters. It is strategically located on the French Riviera and is bordered by France on three sides. It has a coastline of less than 2.5 miles. The other reason that reduces the chances of natural disasters in this country is that it is not located near any tectonic plate boundaries or volcanos. There are low chances of tsunamis as it lies along the Mediterranean Sea, separated from major oceans by Italy, Spain, France and northern Africa.
San Marino
A disaster risk index of 0.36 makes it the third country with the least disaster risk. A scenic microstate, San Marino is located on the Italian peninsula and lies along the northeast side of the Apennine Mountains. It is the world’s fifth-smallest country, with just a population of 34,000 people. Most of these are affluent business people drawn in by the country’s excellent healthcare, tourism and services. These factors contribute to San Marino’s strong coping capabilities regarding natural hazards, such as its efficient emergency response system and robust infrastructure that can withstand moderate seismic activity.
Singapore
As per the disaster risk index of 0.63, Singapore ranks fourth. Southeast Asian countries are a tourism hub with more than six million visitors annually. While visiting this country, you can rest assured that natural disasters are rare. The factor that makes it the least risky is that it is not located on a plate boundary; the country has only felt light tremors from other seismic events. Singapore is also protected from open waters because Malaysia surrounds it in the north and Batam Island in the south. If a tsunami happens, these two countries act as a buffer, and there are minimal chances of water reaching Singapore.
What is WorldRiskIndex?
WorldRiskIndex is a widely recognised tool that assesses a country’s vulnerability to natural hazards based on exposure, susceptibility, and coping capacities.
Millions of people worldwide are affected by natural disasters annually. However, some countries are the least affected. Let us look at the list of 9 countries least affected, such as Andorra or Monaco, which has been spared from devastating tsunamis due to its geographical location. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
