Population Distribution in the Pacific Islands, Proximity to Coastal Areas, and Risks

Abstract

Pacific island countries (PICs) are highly susceptible to sea-level rise and extreme events due to their size, location, and isolated nature. Populations in PICs are generally concentrated along the coast due to transportation ease, reliance on tourism for income, and livelihoods tied to marine resources. A majority of PICs are low-lying islands and with populations distributed mainly along the coastal regions leaves them more vulnerable to climatic impacts. A detailed analysis of the exposure of populations of 12 PICs to climate change-related hazards revealed that approximately 54% of the population lives within 500 m of the coastline. In particular, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu are identified to be extremely vulnerable. They have the highest proportion of population living within close proximity of the coast, with 68.8%, 74.3%, and 64.9% of the population living within 200 m of the coast for Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu, respectively. The implications of these results emphasise the importance of prioritising the populations of the small islands of the Pacific for future adaptation to coastal hazards.