Top Sinking Cities That Could Disappear by 2100

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Cities Facing Submersion by 2100: The High-Risk List

Jakarta, Indonesia: The Rapidly Sinking Capital

Jakarta, Indonesia, continues to face a dire threat from rising sea levels and land subsidence. Over decades, heavy groundwater extraction and natural geological factors have led parts of the city to sink, with estimates suggesting it could be submerged by 2100 if significant interventions aren’t made. The city is already grappling with frequent flooding, displacing thousands of residents and threatening economic buildings essential for Indonesia’s economy.

Lagos, Nigeria: Africa’s Booming but Vulnerable City

Lagos, often termed Africa’s economic hub, is confronting environmental challenges with alarming urgency. Its rapid urban growth, coupled with poor drainage systems and rising sea levels, have caused parts of Lagos to experience frequent flooding, threatening homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Experts warn that without comprehensive climate resilience strategies, significant portions of Lagos could be lost in the coming decades.

Houston, Texas: America’s Flood-Prone Mega-Subdivision

Houston’s susceptibility to flooding has escalated over recent years, aggravated by climate change and urbanization. The city’s low-lying geography and heavy stormwater runoff make it vulnerable to rising sea levels and intense hurricanes. Predictions indicate that coastal and low-lying areas could become uninhabitable by 2100, prompting urgent calls for better flood defenses and sustainable city planning.

Dhaka, Bangladesh: The Heart of South Asia’s Water Crisis

Dhaka, one of the most densely populated cities globally, faces existential threats from climate change. Rising sea levels and increasingly severe cyclones have already begun to cause frequent flooding. The city’s inadequate drainage infrastructure exacerbates the problem, putting millions of residents at risk of displacement, poverty, and health crises if urgent measures are not implemented.

Venice, Italy: A Historic City Under Siege by Rising Tides

Venice’s charm comes with a vulnerability to climate change. Its unique canal-based infrastructure makes it particularly sensitive to rising sea levels, which threaten to submerge its historic streets and buildings. Despite ongoing efforts with barriers like MOSE, experts warn that Venice’s preservation is at risk unless global climate actions are accelerated.

Virginia Beach, Virginia: Coastal Community on the Frontlines

Virginia Beach faces a mounting threat from sea level rise, with projections indicating that parts of the city could be inundated by 2100. The city’s extensive Atlantic coastline, combined with storm surge impacts, leads to frequent flooding and erosion. Local officials are urging proactive infrastructure upgrades and conservation initiatives to secure the city’s future.

Bangkok, Thailand: Urban Floods and Rising Seas

Bangkok experiences seasonal flooding regularly, but climate change threatens to turn these into permanent inundations in the coming decades. The city’s thin river delta makes it especially vulnerable to rising seas, which could drown neighborhoods and vital transportation links if resilience measures aren’t prioritized.

New Orleans, Louisiana: A City Steeped in Flooding History

New Orleans, with its profound relationship to water, faces constant threats from coastal erosion, storm surges, and rising seas. The city’s levee system and drainage infrastructure are under unprecedented strain, particularly after hurricanes and tropical storms. By 2100, without significant infrastructure investments, large areas of New Orleans could become uninhabitable.

Rotterdam, Netherlands: The World’s Hydraulic Marvel at Risk

Straddling a network of canals and below-sea-level land, Rotterdam is renowned for its advanced flood defenses. Nonetheless, rising sea levels and climate variability threaten to overwhelm even the most sophisticated systems. The city continues to innovate in flood prevention but remains at significant risk if global warming accelerates.

Alexandria, Egypt: North Africa’s Coastal Jewel in Danger

Alexandria’s strategic port and historic sites are increasingly at risk from rising seas. Land subsidence and climate change-induced flooding threaten to damage infrastructure and displace communities. The Egyptian government is exploring resilience projects, but long-term protection depends heavily on global climate mitigation efforts.

Miami, Florida: America’s Iconic Beach City Underwater

Miami remains one of the most prominent American cities threatened by rising sea levels. Coastal flooding, “king tides,” and saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies challenge city planners. Without transformative planning and investment, much of downtown Miami could be submerged within this century, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents.

Source: World Economic Forum – 2025