World Risk Poll 2024 Report: Resilience in a Changing World

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This page was published on 19/06/2024

Woman wearing boots standing in flooded area

In the context of our changing world, the resilience of individuals, communities and countries has never been more important. Resilience helps people to live safely and to feel safe, and it is Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s mission to engineer a safer world.

In 2022 we released our first World Risk Poll Resilience Index, a global tool that allows policymakers and researchers to understand resilience from the perspectives of individuals, communities and countries, across the diverse demographics and regions the Poll covers.

In this report – Resilience in a Changing World – we present the second iteration of this Resilience Index, which, for the first time, shows how resilience is changing in the face of today’s challenges.

We want this report and the associated data to increase shared understanding and lead to meaningful improvements in the way resilience is nurtured and strengthened around the world – ultimately keeping people safe from harm.

Download the report

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Key findings

While overall resilience was stable at a global level from 2021 to 2023, resilience at the individual level fell, with significant drops in almost a third (42) of countries measured in the Index in both years. This decline was driven by a global increase, from 36% to 43%, in the number of people who say they can do nothing to protect themselves and their families in a disaster, suggesting a global loss of agency.
The proportion of the global population that has experienced a disaster related to a natural hazard in the past five years has increased by 3 percentage points from 2021 to 2023, from 27% to 30%, primarily driven by increased experience of flooding.
30% of people globally who experienced a disaster in the past five years received no warning, with rural, less educated and less financially resilient populations significantly less likely to be warned. However, over three-quarters (77%) of those not warned own a mobile phone, presenting an important opportunity for investment in mobile/cell-broadcast early warning systems.

Stories

Nearly half the global population feels unable to protect themselves from disasters

According to the data – collected in 2023 – 43% of the world’s population say they can do nothing to protect themselves and their families in the event of a disaster, a seven percentage point increase from 2021.

A community resources person standing in front of a car in Sierra Leone

New film highlights community resilience in Sierra Leone

A new short film has been launched today, highlighting resilience challenges in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, and how female-led community groups are rising to the challenge.

Nearly two thirds of people in Central and West Africa who have experienced a disaster received no warning

A new report by a global safety charity has highlighted significant gaps in access to disaster early warning systems in Central and West Africa, emphasising how much progress remains to be made by the UN’s ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative.

The aftermath of an earthquake in Pakistan, a building has been toppled and rubble can be seen everywhere.

Pakistan sees significant decline in societal resilience

A new report by a global safety charity has revealed community and societal resilience in Pakistan has been negatively impacted by recent experiences of disaster.

Expert commentary

How are we coping in a turbulent world? That depends on who you are and where you live

Gavin White from the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) highlights insightful Poll findings for disaster reduction practitioners.

A banner image of Meggan Spires, the article's author.

Building Urban Resilience: ICLEI Africa's Insights from the new World Risk Poll

Dr Meggan Spires explains how ICLEI is using the World Risk Poll’s resilience data to improve safety in east Africa.

Digital Solutions for Disaster Resilience: Insights from the World Risk Poll

Vanessa Gray discusses the Poll and the transformative potential of mobile technology as early warning systems to enhance disaster resilience.

Expert comment banner for Benedict Vigers

United States: Resilient Individuals, Fragile Society?

Benedict Vigers discusses the World Risk Poll, revealing the high individual resilience in the U.S. but highlighting its fragile societal resilience.

World Risk Poll Resilience Index

Using data from the latest two World Risk Polls, the newly updated Resilience Index provides a unique data resource for understanding the resilience and vulnerabilities of countries and communities around the world.

Explore the index

Data visualisation of the World Risk Poll Resilience Index

Download the report