There are cities around the world that look just as lively as any other, filled with people going to work and traffic honking at rush hour. But underneath the surface, quite literally in some cases, these places are in trouble, as they’re dealing with environmental pressures that make their future uncertain. So, if you’re curious which cities are quietly slipping off the global map, here are ten that may not be around forever.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta is sinking by as much as 25 centimeters each year, primarily due to groundwater extraction. According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs, 40% of the city already lies below sea level. That’s why the government has announced plans to relocate the capital to Borneo at a projected cost of over $30 billion.
Venice, Italy
Regular tidal floods are becoming more destructive as Venice sinks 1 to 2 millimeters annually. The 2019 flood surged over 6 feet, marking the city’s second-highest water level on record. It also intensified concerns from UNESCO, which may label it a “World Heritage Site in Danger.” Despite this, Venice took over 17 years just to reach partial deployment.
Miami, Florida
Sea level in Miami has risen by 6 inches since 1996, placing the city at the center of the climate crisis. Today, sunny-day flooding is a regular occurrence, and FEMA ranks Miami as “extremely high risk.” In some of Miami’s lowest-lying neighborhoods, real estate values are already starting to fall—a sign that the water isn’t waiting for the future to make its move.
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok sinks over 3 centimeters each year as groundwater pumping pulls the city down. Built on a soft clay basin nicknamed a “city on jelly,” its surface can’t keep up with the weight above. Without major intervention, more than 40% could be underwater by 2030. Plus, historic landmarks like the Grand Palace now face regular flood threats.
New Orleans, Louisiana
With 80% of New Orleans underwater in 2005, the storm (Hurricane Katrina) turned a spotlight on a city sinking 1 to 2 inches each year. Natural defenses aren’t holding up either, as coastal wetlands vanish at the pace of a football field every hour. Above-ground tombs now mark cemeteries where digging deeper isn’t an option.
Alexandria, Egypt
Rising seas and sinking land now threaten 3 million people along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. Alexandria’s coastline is retreating by 0.5 to 1 meter each year, while concrete sea walls crack under relentless wave pressure. Erosion also endangers landmarks like the former site of the Pharos lighthouse, once one of the Seven Wonders.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka sits on a flood-prone delta, where annual monsoon flooding intensifies under the weight of climate change. Every day, over 1,000 climate-displaced people pour into the city, swelling one of the most densely populated urban areas on Earth. Meanwhile, the Buriganga River—once vital to the city’s heartbeat—suffers from severe pollution.
Lagos, Nigeria
Coastal erosion and rising Atlantic waters now place entire districts of Lagos at risk. With sea levels rising an average of 4 millimeters per year, according to Nigeria’s Environmental Ministry, the pressure keeps mounting. Plus, seasonal floods affect more than 30% of residents each year, many of whom live in unregulated housing.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town came dangerously close to “Day Zero” in 2018, which was the point when municipal water supply would have been shut off. Residents were restricted to just 50 liters of water per day as severe droughts, worsened by climate change, pushed the system to its limits. Soon, the city turned to desalination plants and strict rationing to stretch every drop.
Houston, Texas
Parts of Houston have dropped more than 10 feet since the 1920s, and that sinking ground keeps shifting underfoot. The city’s low, flat layout makes intense flooding almost inevitable, something Hurricane Harvey made impossible to ignore. Moreover, rain isn’t the only issue, as rising tides add to what’s called “compound flooding.”
