Uneven Waters: Examining Poverty and Urban and Rural Households' Exposure to Flood Risk in Paraguay

Paul Ervin, Lyliana Gayoso and Eliana Carolina Rubiano Matulevich

No 11215, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Floods are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, population growth, and land cover changes. In Paraguay, floods are the most common weather-related hazard and disproportionately impact poor and vulnerable populations. This study contributes to understanding household-level exposure to flood risk in Paraguay by combining geolocated household survey data with novel flood hazard maps. The study estimates that more than 23 percent of households are exposed to flood risk, with exposure varying by geography and household characteristics. Urban households living in poverty are among the most exposed, facing depths of flooding nearly four times higher than non-poor households, in smaller, more common flood events. The approach provides valuable insights for targeting flood risk reduction efforts and highlights the importance of considering socioeconomic vulnerability in disaster risk management. These findings underscore the multidimensional nature of vulnerability to flood risk, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas, and the need for integrated urban planning and poverty reduction strategies to address flood risk disparities effectively, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas.

Date: 2025-09-15
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