The Global Catastrophic Risk Index: Navigating Risk in an Uncertain Future

This second issue of the Global Governance Forum’s Global Catastrophic Risk Index (GCRI) examines the complexity of global risk and presents a clear picture of vulnerabilities across nations. The Index evaluates 163 countries using 109 indicators sourced from institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and United Nations. It identifies the most at-risk countries as Yemen, Afghanistan, Haiti, South Sudan, and Sudan, while Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Iceland rank as the least at risk. The report reveals striking disparities among countries that may appear similarly positioned, highlighting the multifaceted nature of risk. It also identifies emerging threats such as AI misuse, rising sovereign debt, and geopolitical tensions, and calls on policymakers to act decisively in the face of growing global uncertainty.