Natural Disasters in South East Asia and Bangladesh - Vulnerability Risks and Consequences (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters - International Center for Training Exchanges in the Geosciences, 1998, 83 p.): PART III - ASSESSING VULNERABILITY CRITERIA AND GLOBAL RISK LEVELS: 1. Analysis of the vulnerability criteria (figure 30): 1.3. Synthesis

Natural Disasters in South East Asia and Bangladesh - Vulnerability Risks and Consequences (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters - International Center for Training Exchanges in the Geosciences, 1998, 83 p.)

PART III - ASSESSING VULNERABILITY CRITERIA AND GLOBAL RISK LEVELS

1. Analysis of the vulnerability criteria (figure 30)

		1.1. Socio-economic indicators (wealth, health and education)
		1.2. Demographic indicators (population density and growth)
		1.3. Synthesis

1.3. Synthesis

The juxtaposition of the two series of indicators allows to establish a hierarchical classification of the countries in terms of vulnerability, even though this classification remains global.

- Bangladesh is the most vulnerable country all the indicators being unfavourable.
- It is followed by Cambodia that is mainly penalised by socio-economic factors.
- Laos and Myanmar are vulnerable because of the socio-economic variables though to a lesser degree than those above.
- Vietnam and the Philippines seem to be slightly less vulnerable than Laos and Myanmar. The former vulnerability lies mainly in its weak socio-economic indicators, the latter's in its demographic criteria.
- The majority of the indicators for Thailand are distinctly more favourable than those of the other countries. It is therefore the least vulnerable country.

Fig. 31 - Population distribution in Vietnam. (Source: DHA, 1994, p. 37.)

Fig. 32 - Population distribution in Laos (1995). (Source: Jeggle T., 1996, annex 2.)