Low-lying island nations, primarily Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Maldives, face existential threats by 2050 due to sea-level rise caused by climate change. These nations risk becoming uninhabitable or submerged, with Tuvalu actively planning for potential relocation and digitizing its territory to preserve its statehood.
Tuvalu, located in Oceania, is expected to be completely underwater by 2050. The island nation with a population of just 11,000 is setting a precedent to become the first country to have to permanently evacuate.
Today, the Maldives has a population of around 540,000 people. If levels continue rising, it means that in just 2 generations the country will be almost completely submerged underwater and uninhabitable. Another country in danger of disappearance is Kiribati.
Many countries no longer exist, like the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, which dissolved into multiple new nations, while others like East Germany, South Vietnam, Austria-Hungary, Prussia, and Sikkim were absorbed or unified into larger states, leaving behind historical traces but not as independent countries.
Kiribati (specifically its Line Islands, like Kiritimati) is the first nation to greet the New Year 2025, followed closely by Samoa and Tonga, due to their location just west of the International Date Line and use of UTC+14 time zones. These Pacific island nations welcome January 1st earlier than anywhere else in the world.
How much of the UK will be underwater? Large areas of the UK could be underwater by 2100, including parts of London and many of the coastal areas. Regions that we can expect to be hit the hardest are the southeast and northwest of England, south Wales, and central Scotland.
Tuvalu is widely considered one of the first countries likely to be significantly impacted by rising sea levels due to global climate change. According to some estimates, the highest tides could regularly flood 50% of the land area of national capital Funafuti by the mid-21st century, and 95% by 2100.
In simple terms: Tuvalu will be underwater for one-third of every year. And by 2050 — just 25 years from now — Tuvalu's critical infrastructure will be submerged during high tide. Funafuti, the island where 60% of Tuvalu's people live, will be half-submerged.
From the dynamic landscapes and cultural heritage of Zambia and Zimbabwe to the historical significance of former nations like Zaire and Zululand, these countries hold special tales and traditions.
1. United States. The United States ranks at the top in the list of the top 10 powerful countries. The United States has one of the most powerful and modern militaries in the world.
It's bad news – and worse yet, the spot set to be the worst affected in all of England, Scotland and Wales is in London. The statistics showed that by 2050 Bermondsey and Old Southwark could see 92 percent of its homes being at risk of flooding.
Many countries no longer exist, like the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, which dissolved into multiple new nations, while others like East Germany, South Vietnam, Austria-Hungary, Prussia, and Sikkim were absorbed or unified into larger states, leaving behind historical traces but not as independent countries.
In a 2024 interview with The Independent, former UK PM Tony Blair predicted that by 2050 India would be a 'global superpower' along with the United States and China. In 2025 Former UK PM Rishi Sunak suggested India is an 'economic superpower'.
London, Liverpool, Cardiff, and Bristol will all be hit by both rising sea and river levels, putting them in the danger zone. Currently, 2.4 million properties in the UK are at high-risk of coastal or river floods, but estimates suggest this could rise to 3.2 million in 2050.
By 2080, the UK will likely face hotter, drier summers with increased heatwave risks, wetter winters, rising sea levels causing coastal issues, and more intense rainfall leading to flooding, alongside potential water scarcity, while agriculture might see new crops like oranges grown, but significant adaptation in infrastructure, water management, and urban planning will be crucial for resilience. Population dynamics, including migration and ageing, and technological advancements in food production (like urban farming) will also shape the UK's future.
The islands of Niue and American Samoa, which are southwest of Kiribati in the South Pacific, are the last inhabited places to celebrate the New Year, according to National Geographic. By the time American Samoa says goodbye to 2025, a lot of the rest of the world will already be firmly in 2026.
