Disparities of flood exposure across population profiles in Southeast Asia

Flooding poses significant risks to human population, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Southeast Asia. However, there is limited understanding of how flood exposure varies across different population profiles, despite its critical importance in risk adaption and mitigation. This study addresses this gap by assessing flood exposure in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, with a specific focus on population distribution by gender and age groups. Our analysis reveals that while the absolute number of older adults exposed to flooding is relatively low compared to other age groups, the proportion of older adults affected is significantly higher. Overall, approximately 39% of individuals aged 65 and above are exposed to flood hazards, compared to 37% for total population. Gender differences in exposure are also observed, with women aged 80 and above exhibits the highest exposure percentage 42%. Furthermore, this study highlights the limitations of national-scale assessments in capturing localized disparities in flood exposure. For instance, while the overall exposure in Thailand may appear moderate at 40%, five provinces show disproportionally high exposure rates that exceed 95%, and Gini coefficients therein are also higher than national average, suggesting a larger disparity in flood exposure across demographic groups. These findings underscore the importance of subnational analyses in identifying vulnerable population and informing targeted adaptation strategies that address the specific vulnerabilities of older adults and other at-risk groups.