11 Cities at Risk of Being Underwater by 2100

Coastal flooding threat from rising sea levels and sinking land puts major urban centers in peril

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A new report from the World Economic Forum highlights the growing global crisis of coastal cities slowly being submerged due to rising sea levels and sinking land. From Jakarta to Miami, low-lying urban centers around the world are facing an increasingly urgent threat, with some cities already experiencing devastating floods and others projected to have significant portions underwater by the end of the century.

Why it matters

The accelerating rate of sea level rise, driven by climate change and exacerbated by human activity like groundwater extraction, is reshaping coastlines and threatening the homes, businesses, and infrastructure of millions of people worldwide. The economic consequences could be catastrophic, with the World Economic Forum estimating that rising seas could cost the world $14 trillion a year by 2100 if action is not taken.

The details

Jakarta, Indonesia, is sinking at a rate of roughly six inches per year, while Lagos, Nigeria, is experiencing more frequent and severe flooding due to coastal erosion and rising seas. In the U.S., Houston, Texas, is sinking two inches annually due to groundwater pumping, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, is seeing one of the fastest rates of sea level rise on the East Coast. Other cities like Bangkok, Thailand, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Alexandria, Egypt, are also facing imminent threats from submerging coastlines.

  • Between 1901 and 2018, the average sea level rose by 15–25 centimeters (6–10 inches).
  • The rate of sea level rise increased to 2.3 millimeters (0.091 inches) per year since the 1970s.
  • The decade 2013–2022 saw an even faster rise of 4.62 millimeters (0.182 inches) per year.

The players

World Economic Forum

An international non-governmental organization for public-private cooperation that has highlighted the potential economic consequences of inaction on rising sea levels.

Jakarta

The capital of Indonesia, which is sinking at a rate of roughly six inches per year due to excessive groundwater extraction.

Lagos

The largest city in Nigeria, where coastal erosion and rising seas are increasing the frequency of devastating floods and disrupting businesses and transportation.

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The takeaway

The threat of coastal cities being submerged by rising sea levels is a global crisis that requires urgent action and investment in adaptation measures. While some cities are attempting to address the issue through engineering projects and relocation plans, the scale of the challenge is immense, and the long-term outlook remains uncertain without a concerted global effort to mitigate the effects of climate change.