CHINA

AUSTRALIA

MYANMAR

THAILAND

JAPAN

INDONESIA

VIETNAM

CAMBODIA

MALAYSIA

LAO

P.D.R.

BRUNEI

DARUSSALAM

SINGAPORE

VANUATU

PAPUA

NEW GUINEA

BANGLADESH

FIJI

SOLOMON ISLANDS

FEDERATED

STATES OF

MICRONESIA

KIRIBATI

THE MARSHALL

ISLANDS

PACIFIC OCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

South China

Sea

Coral Sea

Bay of

Bengal

6800

7400

1980

2000

Fiji

6800

7400

1980

2000

Solomon Islands

6800

7400

1980

2000

Papua New Guinea

6800

7400

1980

2000

Bangladesh

6800

7400

1980

2000

Kiribati

6800

7400

1980

2000

The Marshall Islands

6800

7400

1980

2000

Federated States

of Micronesia

Asia Pacific:

 Impact of Rising Sea Levels on Small Islands 

(Feb 2009)

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), rising 
sea levels, more frequent  storms and floods will impact  tens of millions of 
people, particularly in coastal areas and on islands. The ‘sinking’ of Small 
Island States can have dramatic consequences, such as increasing food 
insecurity  and  displacement  of  populations.  In  the  Asia-Pacific 
region, several countries have already proved to be among 
the most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate 
change.

1

Disclaimer:

The  boundaries  and  names  shown  and  the 
designations  used  on  all  maps  do  not  imply 
official endorsement or acceptance by the United 
Nations.

Creation date:  17 Mar 2009.
Base map sources: 

UNCS, Referentiel 

Geographique Commun.

References:

1

Brookings-Bern Project on Internal 

Displacement. The climate change - 
displacement nexus. 16 Jul 2008.

2

FAO. Climate Change and Food Security in 

Pacific Island Countries. 02 Dec 2008.

3

IRIN. Bangladesh: When climate change gives 

you a sinking feeling. 23 Oct 2008.

4

IRIN. Papua New Guinea: Tens of thousands 

displaced by coastal flooding. 12 Dec 2008.

5

OCHA. Pacific Islands: Abnormally high sea 

levels OCHA Situation Report No.1. 13 Dec 2008.

6

Gov. of Fiji. Fiji: Damaged seawall repairs begin. 

27 Jan 2009.

7

BODC. GLOSS Station Handbook. 

www.bodc.ac.uk/data/information_abd_inventor
ies/gloss_handbook/stations. Download: 14 Jan 
2009.

The average sea level is 
expected to rise between 

18

 

to 

58

 cm in a hundred years.

2

In the absence of adaptation, cost 
of damages in food sector by 
2050 could represent 

2-3

% of Fiji’s 

and 

17-18

% of Kiribati’s 2002 

GDP.

2

The Papua New Guinea Gov. 
estimates that 

50,000-80,000

 

people have been affected by 
flooding caused by abnormally 
high tides in early Dec 2008.

4

The Marshall Islands Gov. 
reported that swells 

3.65

 m high 

impacted lower lying areas of 
Majuro on 10 Dec 2008.

5

During the Jan 2009 floods in Fiji, 
seawalls were washed away by 
the impact of flood waters. It will 
cost over USD 

753,000

 to repair 

the total damages incurred.

6

Highlights:

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

United Nations

www.reliefweb.int

Sea level from 1980 to 2000 in millimeters

7

60%

 of the population of 

Kutubdia Island has 

emigrated. The island 

has been reduced from 

250

 to about 

37

 sq km 

within a century.

3

Over the past 20 years 
the frequency of flood 
disasters has 

tripled

.

1

Did you know 

?