Discover the 40 Cities Around the World That Could Be Underwater By 2050

With 10% of the world’s population living on the coastlines of our oceans, rising sea levels pose an incredibly alarming dilemma for the almost 800 million people at risk. Since the early 1990s, when scientists first began measuring and tracking the world’s sea levels, the oceans have risen steadily.

From 1993 to 2001, the sea level rose by 0.08 inch annually and 0.17 inch per year from 2013 to 2021. The increased amount per year is increasing with the actual water level. This is primarily due to the acceleration of ice mass from ice sheets and glaciers. To examine this issue more closely, we’ve compiled a list of 40 cities that could be underwater by 2050 in this article.

1. Lagos, Nigeria

Ironically, Lagos is not only one of the forty cities in danger of being submerged by 2050, but it’s also the top city with a population predicted to exceed 50 million by 2100. By 2050, the population will most likely be around 40 million. That number represents a staggering population of people affected by this crisis.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Synagogue Church of All Nations
• Lufasi Nature Park
• The Cathedral Church of Christ

2. Basra, Iraq

Located in the southeastern corner of Iraq, Basra is an important regional trading center and port where the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers converge. In a country once known as Mesopotamia, Basra has a rich history and culture. In 2022, its population was nearly 1.5 million. Unfortunately, the UN World Urbanization Projects only predicts this city’s population up to 2035, which will be over 2 million.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater by 2050

• The Tree of Knowledge
• The Basra Cultural Museum
• The Euphrates and Tigris River Confluence

3. Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The beautiful city of Amsterdam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The colorful houses along the Seventeenth-century canal ring create a picturesque tourist scene. The city’s population in 2023 was almost 1.17 million. By 2035 — the latest year the U.N. has forecast for the city — the population will be around 1.24 million.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Centraal Station
• Museum Quarter
• Royal Palace Amsterdam

4. New Orleans, United States

Sadly, Louisiana’s vibrant city of New Orleans has already experienced being submerged. The 2005 destructive storm, Katrina, leftover 50 breaches to several flood protection structures throughout the city. This left 80% of New Orleans underwater.

In 2023, the population of over 1 million people continue to be at risk for flooding. By 2035, the population will be around 1.2 million, according to the U.N.’s most far-reaching predictions.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The French Quarter
• Jackson Square
• The Garden District

5. Venice, Italy

The city of Venice and its lagoon comprise a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many of the buildings in the region contain amazing works of art done by some of the greatest artists of all time. Yet this rich history and art could be lost if Venice is underwater by 2050.

In 2023, the population was a little over 640,000. By 2035, the U.N. predicts the city’s population will grow to just over 660,000. Unfortunately, the U.N. does not predict Venice’s population beyond 2035.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• St. Mark’s Basilica
• The Grand Canal
• Doge’s Palace

6. Tokyo, Japan

Centuries ago, in 1603, Japan’s capital city of Tokyo was a fishing village called Edo. Today, this city is the world’s largest urban economy. The 2023 population of the city was just over 37 million. Although Tokyo’s population is declining, by 2050, there will still be around 32.6 million people living in this city who are vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Senso-ji Temple
• Tokyo Tower

7. New York City, United States

With a 2023 population of around 18.9 million, New York City is the United States’ most populated city. Wall Street and the Financial District of Lower Manhattan — the world’s preeminent financial center — are housed in the city. By 2050, the population will be around 24.8 million people.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Statue of Liberty
• Central Park
• Times Square
• The Empire State Building

8. Mumbai, India

India’s most populous city, Mumbai, comprises seven islands joined in 1838. The city lies along the Arabian Sea and has six major lakes. The 2023 population of Mumbai was about 21 million. The U.N. predicts that this city will be home to about 42.4 million people by 2050.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Gateway of India
• Elephanta Caves
• The Global Vipassana Pagoda

9. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Formerly Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s most populated city and is the region’s media, education, technology, transportation, and financial center. It is also one of the 40 global coastal cities sinking even faster than the sea is rising.

In 2023, the population was about 9.3 million people. By the year 2050, the city will have a population of about 11.9 million inhabitants who are vulnerable to the effects of sinking land and rising sea levels.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Independence Palace
• The Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater)
• Emperor Jade Pagoda

10. Kolkata, India

The city of Kolkata, India, is called the “City of Joy.” Perhaps this city’s over 15.3 million residents are overjoyed because of the multitude of art, literature, culinary, sports, religion, and other opportunities. By 2050, the city’s population will more than double to about 33 million people who may very well experience the consequences of rising sea levels.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Victoria Memorial
• Indian Museum
• The Holy Church of Nazareth (Armenian Church)

11. Osaka, Japan

Situated on Japan’s main island of Honshu, Osaka is where 10% of Japanese residents live. Although the city’s population declined from 1996 to 2000 and from 2012 to the present, the number of residents is still over 19 million.

By 2050, the U.N. estimates that the city’s population will be about 10.1 million as it continues to decrease. However, that’s still an overwhelming number of inhabitants who may need to relocate.

Cities Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Osaka Castle and Osaka Castle Park
• Umeda Sky Building
• The Osaka Science Museum

12. Instanbul, Turkey

Before Istanbul was Istanbul, the city was called Constantinople. The rich history of this city from the 7th century BCE to the present makes it Turkey’s cultural and historical center. The city’s 2023 population total was more than 15.8 million. By 2050, the population will decrease to about 14.2 million people living in this vulnerable area.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Blue Mosque
• Galata Tower
• Topkapi Palace

13. Bangkok, Thailand

Since the Vietnam War, Bangkok has been popular as a tourist destination. However, this city, built on clay soil and less than 5 feet above sea level, is sinking about 0.8 to 1.2 inches annually. In 2023, Bangkok’s population of just over 11 million people was endangered by the severe risk of flooding. By 2050, the population will be about 46 million people who could be sinking into the sea.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Grand Palace
• Princess Mother Memorial Park
• The Upper Terrace

14. London, England

London’s 9.6 million people have already experienced flooding along the River Thames due to a warming climate. As sea levels steadily rise, the United Kingdom is ramping up efforts to implement protective measures. By 2050, about 11 million people will be at risk for flooding.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• London Bridge
• The London Tower
• Big Ben
• Westminster Abbey

15. Jakarta, Indonesia

In 2023, 40% of Jakarta was already underwater. The more than 11.2 million people in the city face the risk of flooding more frequently than ever before. The U.N. has predicted that at-risk residents will be over 15.9 million by 2050.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Monumen Nasional (National Monument)
• Museum Fatahillah
• Cathedral Church

16. Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country that has transformed itself economically. In 50 years, the country has reduced the number of people living in extreme poverty from 34% to 13%. While Dhaka’s economic state has improved along with the rest of the country, more than 20 million city dwellers live in areas with the worst air quality. Moreover, as the population is estimated to grow to 35.2 million by 2050, the city will also deal with rising sea levels.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Pink Palace (Ahsan Manzil)
• Lalbag Fort
• The Dhakeshwari Temple

17. Miami, United States

Residents of Miami and their government officials are conducting experiments to find ways to adapt to rising sea levels. The rest of the country may want to pay attention since 40% of the United States population lives in coastal areas. The more than 6.3 million Miami residents will increase to 7.5 million by 2050.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Everglades National Park
• Miami Beach
• The Cape Florida Lighthouse

18. Sydney, Australia

Sydney is the capital of New South Wales, in which about 80% of the residents live within 30 miles of the coast. The 2023 population of 5.1 million Sydney residents has seen sea levels rise at an average rate of 0.08 inches annually over 50 years. While the total of 4 inches may not seem significant, the 9 million predicted residents of this city in 2050 will suffer from the damage of an increased rate of rising over the next few decades.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Sydney Harbour
• The Sydney Opera House
• Bondi Beach

19. San Francisco, United States

California has state policies and procedures to mitigate the impact of earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters — except for rising sea levels. Unfortunately, cities like San Francisco are left to formulate plans for the inevitable flooding and rising sea levels due to climate change. The 3.3 million residents are working to find a way to reduce the impact of rising sea levels for the predicted 4.7 million future inhabitants in 2050.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Ferry Building Marketplace
• Chinatown
• Union Square

20. Alexandria, Egypt

Along with the Nile Delta, Alexandria, Egypt, is one of the world’s most imperiled areas regarding climate change. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) anticipates that the 2.23-foot increase in sea level by 2050 will impact the predicted 8.7 million Alexandrians by flooding the area and saturating the groundwater with saltwater.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world)
• The Great Library
• Pompey’s Pillar

21. Boston, United States

New England is seeing a larger impact from global warming than most other American areas. The sea level is rising at an alarming rate while the land is simultaneously sinking. The city introduced the Climate Ready Boston initiative in 2016 to help its 4.34 million inhabitants prepare for the long-term effects of climate change. By 2050, the predicted 6 million residents may deal with annual flooding events, higher tides, and marshy ground that can’t absorb floodwaters.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Fenway Park
• Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• The Freedom Trail

22. Georgetown, Guyana

Georgetown is actually one of nine countries that are forecast to be underwater as early as 2030. Unfortunately, 90% of Guyana’s inhabitants live in this city. Moreover, those Georgetown residents have depended solely on a 280-mile-long sea wall to protect them from flooding.

The 235,000 Georgetown residents may have to work rigorously to shore up this wall since much of the coastline is already 1.64 to 3.28 feet below high tide. The predicted 880,000 people in 2050 may still be working on bolstering the sea wall.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• St. George’s Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• The Stabroek Market
• The Guyana National Museum

23. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is already experiencing severe consequences of climate change. In June of 2022, for example, 96% of Portugal was designated as suffering from extreme or severe drought. Unfortunately, Lisbon’s 3 million residents are starting to move from drought to the threat of being submerged.

By 2050, the U.N. predicts Lisbon’s population will grow to about 9.4 million. The 1,616 miles of coastline will put those people in a highly vulnerable position. Flooding and coastal erosion will have huge economic, health, and agricultural impacts on Lisbon’s population.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Aqueduto das Águas Livres (aquaducts)
• The Carmo Convent
• Palacio Nacional da Ajuda

24. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Home to about 90 billionaires, Dubai is a city of luxury, wealth, and, unfortunately, short-term rewards over permanent solutions. Much of this city is built on shifting sands at or above sea level with no regard for rising water levels.

The city’s 9.4 million people have continued to build and rebuild structures that have had their foundations shift with their wealth of resources. However, the predicted 2050 population of 13.2 million residents may not be able to rebuild.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world)
• Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
• Miracle Garden

25. Vancouver, Canada

With a look ahead, Vancouver developed an expansive Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in 2012. The city’s 2.7 million inhabitants have been building structures in flood-prone areas at appropriate elevations. They’ve also developed a Coastal Flood Risk Assessment, which will prepare the city’s forecast 2050 population of 3.8 million to cope with climate change effects.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Downtown Vancouver
• Canada Place
• Vancouver Lookout

26. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is one of the biggest producers of CO2 per capita on the planet and continues to contribute to global warming. By 2050, the number of carbon-producing inhabitants could rise to 1.61 million.

Like its fellow UAE city of Dubai, Abu Dhabi risks a huge loss of urban area and precious mangrove forests in neighboring ecosystems. The loss of coastal trees and mangrove forests would be even more devastating than the projected billions of lost dollars it would cost the city.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Saadiyat Island
• Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Grand Mosque

27. Dublin, Ireland

Scientists have analyzed the sea level trends in Dublin Bay across eight decades. The results show that the sea level is rising at about double the global sea level increase. By 2050, an estimated 6 million people will have to deal with the aftereffects of global warming-induced flooding and erosion.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Dublin Castle
• Kilmainham Gaol Museum

28. Copenhagen, Denmark

Many areas of Copenhagen are situated just a few feet above sea level. Since the late 1700s, the world’s sea level has risen about 9 inches, and the IPCC predicts between 9 and 12 more inches by 2050. That endangers many parts of Copenhagen.

About 1.4 million people call Copenhagen home. To prepare for a predicted 2035 population of 1.5 million, architects have developed an adaptive design for a vast sea wall that would protect the city more effectively than the typical vertically-built concrete wall. There are also plans to build a peninsula with an artificial coastline where residents could safely move.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Little Mermaid statue
• Tivoli Gardens
• Rosenborg Castle

29. Honolulu, United States

A large portion of Honolulu’s 912,000 residents and much of its economic activity and infrastructure is aggregated along the coast from Pearl Harbor to Diamond Head. The city is prone to high tides, torrential rains, flash floods, and hurricanes.

The seasonal high tides and other destructive natural events allow more saltwater and sewage overflow to penetrate farther inland, creating health issues and infrastructure damage. By 2035, the forecast 1 million residents of Honolulu will hopefully have a plan to protect its people, ecosystems, and infrastructure.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Waikiki Beach
• Pearl Harbor
• Diamond Head State Monument

30. Malé, Maldives

The Maldives are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change. One study published in Science Advances reported that islands like Malé may be uninhabitable by 2050 despite their predicted population of 570,000. The city will experience more frequent wave-driven flooding, and freshwater resources will be compromised.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Malé Fish Market
• Grand Friday Mosque
• The National Museum

31. Savannah, United States

Already located within a hurricane hotspot, Savannah, GA, is in danger of being inundated with water on all sides. The city’s almost 340,000 residents have the Savannah River to the north, the Ogeechee River south of the city, and plenty of marshland for floodwater to spill into.

By 2050, scientists predict that Savannah will experience yearly flood levels that can be categorized as once-per-century historical floods. The U.N. predicts a 2035 population of 381,000. These residents will still be dealing with the risks of being surrounded by water.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Savannah Historic District
• Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
• Old Fort Jackson

32. Cancun, Mexico

Cancun, Mexico, is already experiencing beach and coastline erosion and more frequent hurricanes. The 1 million residents — expected to be 1.2 million by 2050 — will likely experience a rising sea level of 2.6 to 3 inches. By 2100, that level will probably be 8 to 8.8 inches higher.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Chichen Itza
• Rio Secreto Nature Reserve
• Mayan Ruins of Coba

33. Dandong, China

With 95% of the Arctic’s thickest and oldest ice already melted, and more than one-third of the planet’s extant glaciers predicted to melt by 2100, China’s coastal cities are in jeopardy of being underwater. Dandong is located along the Yalu River, which empties into the Yellow Sea.

Steadily rising sea levels threaten the 918,000 residents of Dandong. For the past 40 years, China’s rising coastal sea levels have eroded its ecosystems and tidal flats. The groundwater supply has also been compromised, threatening the predicted 1.1 million residents by 2050.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Sino-Korean Friendshihp Bridge
• Jinjiangshan Park
• Baoguang Temple

34. Khulna, Bangladesh

Much of Bangladesh’s country is located in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, the largest river delta in the world. Combined with heavier monsoon rains, surging sea levels, exacerbated erosion, and an increase in the frequency of hurricanes, the living space of Khulna’s 995,000 inhabitants is being ravaged. By 2050, the predicted 4.2 million residents may have nowhere to live.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Sundarbans (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Shaat Gambuj Mosque (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Khan Jahan Ali Bridge

35. Macau, China

Macau is located on the northern coast of the South China Sea. More than 60% of the city’s land has already been reclaimed, and there is an ongoing threat of storms and tsunamis. Macau’s population of 707,000 is already experiencing coastal flooding caused by more intense storm surges and extreme rainfall. By 2050, the predicted 620,000 inhabitants may need to move further inland.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Ruins of St. Paul’s
• Senado Square
• A-Ma Temple

36. Long Beach, United States

Situated on Southern California’s Pacific coast, Long Beach’s almost 440,000 inhabitants are protected by a deteriorating 10-foot long and 12-foot high wall of sand. However, with rapidly increasing sea levels, the city may need to do more to mitigate or adapt to climate change’s effects. By 2050, scientists predict the sea level will rise an additional 2 feet, putting much of the city underwater.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Aquarium of the Pacific
• Naples Canals
• The Long Beach Waterfront

37. Nassau, Bahamas

The Bahamas’ Prime Minister, Philip Edward Davis, presented his case to the U.N. General Assembly in 2021. He purported that within the next 20 years or so, it will be common for coastal cities to see category five hurricane events. For Nassau, its 413,000 inhabitants must prepare for the predicted 1.04 feet of increased sea level and intensified storms, affecting that period’s forecast of 450,600 residents.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Cable Beach
• Queen’s Staircase
• The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas

38. Key West, United States

The effects of 2005 Hurricane Wilma and 2017 Hurricane Irma showed Key West’s 25,800 inhabitants how endangered the Florida Keys are regarding storm surges and rising sea levels. The Keys have 90% of its land a mere 5 feet or less above the sea’s surface, exposing them incredibly.

The unique ecosystem in Key West and the other Keys could be devastated if the area doesn’t find ways to prepare and adapt. One way to adapt to and mitigate the negative impact of climate change is to use the area’s green infrastructure, thereby reducing the effects of flooding and erosion. The predicted 2050 population of 20,000 might then still become a reality.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
• Dry Tortugas National Park
• Southernmost Point

39. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana has one of the Dominican Republic’s most profitable tourist sites — Bavaro Beach. However, due to climate change, the beach could lose 29% of its beachfront as early as 2030. With 11.4 million inhabitants and between 3 and 5 million tourists annually, many people will be affected by the rising sea level.

By 2050, many homes and much of the city’s beaches could be washed away. The 2050 predicted population of 13.2 million may be hard-pressed to find new houses further inland. The irony of the situation lies in the fact that the Dominican Republic plays such a small part in the emission of greenhouse gases and the production of CO2. Yet, they will suffer the consequences more than most industrialized countries.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Bavaro Beach
• Reserva Ecologica Ojos Indigenas
• Macao Beach

40. Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos

The impact of climate change was harshly illustrated in Turks and Caicos when Hurricane Irma hit in 2017, closely followed by Hurricanes Maria and Katia. Beaches in cities like Cockburn Town are shrinking from erosion and the rising sea level. The city’s 40,405 residents have felt the warmer water temperatures that produce the ferocious hurricanes that have hit the city with more frequency in the past several years.

Cockburn Town has adopted a Coastal Adaptation Plan to help manage the risks of coastal changes while adapting to existing ones. By 2050, the estimated 50,300 people of Cockburn Town will hopefully see some positive effects of the plan’s implementation.

City Sites That Could Be Underwater By 2050

• Cockburn Town Beach
• Turks and Caicos National Museum
• Grand Turk Lighthouse

Summary Table of the 40 Cities That Could Be Underwater By 2050