A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford has identified the world’s cities most at risk from extreme heat, highlighting how rising temperatures, social vulnerability and inadequate infrastructure combine to increase climate risks.
Published in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society, the study assessed 205 cities with populations exceeding one million using a framework that measured three factors like heat exposure, population vulnerability and adaptive capacity.
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According to the findings, Al Basrah in Iraq ranks as the world’s most heat-vulnerable city. India has three cities in the global top 10 — Ahmedabad (2nd), Nagpur (4th) and Madurai (7th).
Which cities face the highest extreme heat risk?
The study’s top 10 rankings are:
Rank City Country
1. Al Basrah -Iraq
2. Ahmedabad – India
3.Bamako – Mali
4.Nagpur- India
5.Quezon City- Philippines
6. Baghdad- Iraq
7. Madurai- India
8. Faisalabad -Pakistan
9. Lagos- Nigeria
10. Hyderabad- Pakistan
Researchers found that more than 95% of the highest-risk cities are concentrated in South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Why are some cities more vulnerable than others?
The researchers stressed that temperature alone does not determine heat risk.
Instead, they found that urban vulnerability depends on a combination of climatic conditions, public health, infrastructure and a city’s ability to respond to prolonged heat events.
The study noted that cities such as Jeddah and Bangkok, despite experiencing high temperatures, ranked lower in overall risk because of stronger adaptive capacity. In contrast, cities including Karachi, Kaduna and Faisalabad faced greater risk due to weaker infrastructure and higher social vulnerability.
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According to the researchers, cities require tailored heat action plans that not only reduce exposure but also strengthen public infrastructure and support vulnerable communities to cope with rising temperatures.
FAQs
Q1. Which city is most at risk from extreme heat?
According to the Oxford University study, Al Basrah in Iraq ranks as the world’s most heat-vulnerable city.
Q2. Which Indian cities feature in the top 10?
Ahmedabad (2nd), Nagpur (4th) and Madurai (7th) are the three Indian cities ranked among the world’s 10 most vulnerable cities to extreme heat.
