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Population living less than 5 m above sea level
What this indicator measures
The share of people who live less than 5 meters above sea level.
How to read this?
The higher it is, the more exposed the country is to rising waters and flooding.
Ranking : ranked from lowest to highest
In brief
Population living less than 5 m above sea level: across 212 countries and territories, values range from 0 % (Zimbabwe) to 78.5 % (Guyana), with a world median of 3 %. Data: 2015. The top 10% of countries exceed 17.5 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 0 %. By continent, the median is highest in Oceania (12.3 %) and lowest in Africa (1.5 %).
Median by continent
- Oceania 12.3 % (19)
- North America 5.1 % (34)
- Asia 3 % (48)
- South America 2.2 % (12)
- Europe 2 % (45)
- Africa 1.5 % (51)
Why this indicator matters
This indicator reveals what share of inhabitants lives close to sea level. It lets you compare countries' exposure to floods, storms and the sea-level rise linked to climate change.
What makes this indicator vary
It is high in deltas, coastal plains and small islands, where cities and ports developed close to the water. It is low in countries of mountains or plateaus, far from the coasts. Coastal urbanization can increase it.
Reading precautions
Elevation alone does not measure the real risk: dikes, drainage and prevention change the situation a lot. It is an estimate based on elevation and population data, so it is approximate.
Full ranking
ranked from lowest to highest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇦🇩 Andorra | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇦🇹 Austria | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇱🇦 Laos | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇲🇱 Mali | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇳🇪 Niger | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇸🇲 San Marino | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇹🇩 Chad | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 0 % | 2015 |
| 1er | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 0 % | 2015 |
| 43e | 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa | 0 % | 2015 |
| 44e | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0 % | 2015 |
| 45e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 0.1 % | 2015 |
| 46e | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 0.2 % | 2015 |
| 47e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 0.2 % | 2015 |
| 48e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 0.2 % | 2015 |
| 49e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 0.3 % | 2015 |
| 50e | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 0.4 % | 2015 |
| 51e | 🇸🇾 Syria | 0.4 % | 2015 |
| 52e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 0.4 % | 2015 |
| 53e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 0.4 % | 2015 |
| 54e | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 0.5 % | 2015 |
| 55e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 0.7 % | 2015 |
| 56e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 0.7 % | 2015 |
| 57e | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 0.9 % | 2015 |
| 58e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 0.9 % | 2015 |
| 59e | 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville | 0.9 % | 2015 |
| 60e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 1 % | 2015 |
| 61e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1 % | 2015 |
| 62e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1 % | 2015 |
| 63e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 1.1 % | 2015 |
| 64e | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1.1 % | 2015 |
| 65e | 🇹🇬 Togo | 1.1 % | 2015 |
| 66e | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 1.2 % | 2015 |
| 67e | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 1.3 % | 2015 |
| 68e | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 1.3 % | 2015 |
| 69e | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 1.4 % | 2015 |
| 70e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1.4 % | 2015 |
| 71e | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 1.4 % | 2015 |
| 72e | 🇦🇴 Angola | 1.5 % | 2015 |
| 73e | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 1.5 % | 2015 |
| 74e | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 1.6 % | 2015 |
| 75e | 🇵🇱 Poland | 1.6 % | 2015 |
| 76e | 🇨🇼 Curaçao | 1.7 % | 2015 |
| 77e | 🇮🇱 Israel | 1.7 % | 2015 |
| 78e | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 1.7 % | 2015 |
| 79e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 1.8 % | 2015 |
| 80e | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 1.8 % | 2015 |
| 81e | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 1.8 % | 2015 |
| 82e | 🇮🇳 India | 1.9 % | 2015 |
| 83e | 🇺🇸 United States | 2 % | 2015 |
| 84e | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2 % | 2015 |
| 85e | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 2 % | 2015 |
| 86e | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 2 % | 2015 |
| 87e | 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe | 2 % | 2015 |
| 88e | 🇫🇷 France | 2.1 % | 2015 |
| 89e | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 2.1 % | 2015 |
| 90e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 2.1 % | 2015 |
| 91e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 2.2 % | 2015 |
| 92e | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 2.2 % | 2015 |
| 93e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2.2 % | 2015 |
| 94e | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 2.3 % | 2015 |
| 95e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 2.3 % | 2015 |
| 96e | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 2.3 % | 2015 |
| 97e | 🇲🇹 Malta | 2.4 % | 2015 |
| 98e | 🇬🇺 Guam | 2.4 % | 2015 |
| 99e | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 2.5 % | 2015 |
| 100e | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 2.6 % | 2015 |
| 101e | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 2.6 % | 2015 |
| 102e | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 2.7 % | 2015 |
| 103e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2.7 % | 2015 |
| 104e | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 2.8 % | 2015 |
| 105e | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 2.8 % | 2015 |
| 106e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 3 % | 2015 |
| 107e | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 3 % | 2015 |
| 108e | 🇱🇨 St. Lucia | 3.2 % | 2015 |
| 109e | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 3.2 % | 2015 |
| 110e | 🇰🇲 Comoros | 3.2 % | 2015 |
| 111e | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 3.3 % | 2015 |
| 112e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 3.3 % | 2015 |
| 113e | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 3.5 % | 2015 |
| 114e | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 3.5 % | 2015 |
| 115e | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 3.5 % | 2015 |
| 116e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 3.6 % | 2015 |
| 117e | 🇮🇹 Italy | 3.8 % | 2015 |
| 118e | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 3.8 % | 2015 |
| 119e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 3.9 % | 2015 |
| 120e | 🇪🇸 Spain | 4 % | 2015 |
| 121e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 4 % | 2015 |
| 122e | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 4 % | 2015 |
| 123e | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 4.1 % | 2015 |
| 124e | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 4.1 % | 2015 |
| 125e | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 4.3 % | 2015 |
| 126e | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 4.3 % | 2015 |
| 127e | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 4.3 % | 2015 |
| 128e | 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 4.4 % | 2015 |
| 129e | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 4.5 % | 2015 |
| 130e | 🇫🇮 Finland | 4.6 % | 2015 |
| 131e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 4.6 % | 2015 |
| 132e | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 4.6 % | 2015 |
| 133e | 🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands | 4.7 % | 2015 |
| 134e | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 4.8 % | 2015 |
| 135e | 🇨🇳 China | 4.9 % | 2015 |
| 136e | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 4.9 % | 2015 |
| 137e | 🇦🇼 Aruba | 5 % | 2015 |
| 138e | 🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines | 5.1 % | 2015 |
| 139e | 🇬🇷 Greece | 5.1 % | 2015 |
| 140e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 5.1 % | 2015 |
| 141e | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 5.5 % | 2015 |
| 142e | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 5.7 % | 2015 |
| 143e | 🇬🇩 Grenada | 5.9 % | 2015 |
| 144e | 🇮🇲 Isle of Man | 6 % | 2015 |
| 145e | 🇵🇦 Panama | 6 % | 2015 |
| 146e | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 6.3 % | 2015 |
| 147e | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 6.5 % | 2015 |
| 148e | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 6.7 % | 2015 |
| 149e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 6.8 % | 2015 |
| 150e | 🇱🇾 Libya | 6.8 % | 2015 |
| 151e | 🇴🇲 Oman | 6.8 % | 2015 |
| 152e | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 7 % | 2015 |
| 153e | 🇳🇴 Norway | 7.2 % | 2015 |
| 154e | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 7.2 % | 2015 |
| 155e | 🇧🇲 Bermuda | 7.2 % | 2015 |
| 156e | 🇧🇯 Benin | 7.3 % | 2015 |
| 157e | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China | 7.3 % | 2015 |
| 158e | 🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis | 7.4 % | 2015 |
| 159e | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 7.6 % | 2015 |
| 160e | 🇲🇨 Monaco | 7.9 % | 2015 |
| 161e | 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten | 8.1 % | 2015 |
| 162e | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 8.1 % | 2015 |
| 163e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 8.4 % | 2015 |
| 164e | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 8.8 % | 2015 |
| 165e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 8.8 % | 2015 |
| 166e | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 8.9 % | 2015 |
| 167e | 🇦🇱 Albania | 9.2 % | 2015 |
| 168e | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 9.2 % | 2015 |
| 169e | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 9.5 % | 2015 |
| 170e | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 10.1 % | 2015 |
| 171e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 10.1 % | 2015 |
| 172e | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 10.2 % | 2015 |
| 173e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 10.5 % | 2015 |
| 174e | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 10.9 % | 2015 |
| 175e | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 11.1 % | 2015 |
| 176e | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 11.3 % | 2015 |
| 177e | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 11.7 % | 2015 |
| 178e | 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda | 12.2 % | 2015 |
| 179e | 🇵🇼 Palau | 12.3 % | 2015 |
| 180e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 12.4 % | 2015 |
| 181e | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 12.6 % | 2015 |
| 182e | 🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands | 12.7 % | 2015 |
| 183e | 🇩🇲 Dominica | 12.9 % | 2015 |
| 184e | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 12.9 % | 2015 |
| 185e | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 14.6 % | 2015 |
| 186e | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 15.5 % | 2015 |
| 187e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 16.3 % | 2015 |
| 188e | 🇳🇷 Nauru | 16.6 % | 2015 |
| 189e | 🇲🇴 Macao SAR China | 17.2 % | 2015 |
| 190e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 17.5 % | 2015 |
| 191e | 🇹🇴 Tonga | 17.5 % | 2015 |
| 192e | 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | 17.6 % | 2015 |
| 193e | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 17.9 % | 2015 |
| 194e | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 18.3 % | 2015 |
| 195e | 🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos Islands | 20.8 % | 2015 |
| 196e | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 20.9 % | 2015 |
| 197e | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 21 % | 2015 |
| 198e | 🇫🇲 Micronesia | 23.2 % | 2015 |
| 199e | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 26.7 % | 2015 |
| 200e | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 28.5 % | 2015 |
| 201e | 🇲🇫 St. Martin | 28.7 % | 2015 |
| 202e | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 29.7 % | 2015 |
| 203e | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 33 % | 2015 |
| 204e | 🇰🇮 Kiribati | 33.5 % | 2015 |
| 205e | 🇧🇿 Belize | 33.9 % | 2015 |
| 206e | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | 39.3 % | 2015 |
| 207e | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 49.2 % | 2015 |
| 208e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 53.7 % | 2015 |
| 209e | 🇬🇱 Greenland | 59.9 % | 2015 |
| 210e | 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | 68 % | 2015 |
| 211e | 🇸🇷 Suriname | 71.3 % | 2015 |
| 212e | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 78.5 % | 2015 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Population living less than 5 m above sea level"?
The highest value is in Guyana, at 78.5 % (2015).
Which country has the lowest value for "Population living less than 5 m above sea level"?
The lowest value is in Zimbabwe, at 0 % (2015).
What is the world median value of "Population living less than 5 m above sea level"?
The world median is 3 %, calculated across 212 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
What is the value of "Population living less than 5 m above sea level" for France?
France scores 2.1 % (2015), ranking 88 out of 212 countries (ranked from lowest to highest).
Where does the "Population living less than 5 m above sea level" data come from?
It comes from Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (EN.POP.EL5M.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
Why use an elevation of less than 5 meters?
This threshold is a simple benchmark for identifying low-lying land, vulnerable to coastal flooding and storms. It lets countries be compared using the same rule.
Does living in a low-lying area mean being in danger?
Not necessarily. The risk also depends on protections: dikes, pumping systems, building rules. This indicator measures potential exposure, not the damage that will actually occur.
Source and update
Source : Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (EN.POP.EL5M.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
Indicators in the same category : Terrain, Water & Climate
- Average elevationThe average height of the country's ground above sea level. It gives an idea of the terrain: a mountainous country has a high average elevation, while a country of plains or low islands has a low one.
- Renewable fresh water per personThe amount of renewable fresh water (rivers, groundwater) available per person each year.
- Highest pointThe highest place in the country, measured above sea level. For some countries it is a famous great peak; for others it is just a hill.
- Lowest pointThe lowest place in the country relative to sea level. A value of 0 means the country goes down to the sea, and a negative value means part of the country lies below sea level.
- Average annual rainfallThe depth of water that falls on average each year as rain or snow.