Natural Capital is the stock of natural resources and ecosystem services that support economic activity and human well-being. It includes forests, water resources, biodiversity, clean air, and fertile soil. The health and availability of natural capital directly impacts a country's long-term competitiveness and sustainability.
The Natural Capital Index measures how well countries maintain and protect their environmental resources across key categories including biodiversity, forest resources, water resources, air quality, and climate-related factors.
Environmental resources drive economic resilience and long-term value creation
Bottom Line: Countries with strong natural capital provide stable, sustainable environments that reduce environmental risks and create long-term value for investors and businesses.
Key clusters to measure environmental richness and health
Availability of natural water resources, water usage and water efficiency, water stress, water pollution and the ability to generate freshwater from non-freshwater resources.
The natural occurrence and abundance of biodiversity and biomass, as well as the level of intactness and natural degradation.
Calculated based on the availability of arable land, combined with water, fertility and harvest indicators.
Calculated based on the availability of natural organic, mineral and physical resources
Evaluation of the exposure to short- and long term climate change risks
Evaluation of the agricultural sector based on soil and fertility indicators as well as expected impacts of climate change on biodiversity and fertility
A global snapshot of natural capital performance and trends
The Natural Capital Index is topped by countries with abundant water availability, high forest cover, and comparable small population density from all continents
48% of all indicators globally in the Natural Capital dimension show negative trends - the data suggest natural capital will decline even further in the future
Several countries with a large population in the less developed world (e.g. Pakistan, Egypt, Iran) are performing low in Natural Capital, raising concerns about the future ability to sustain their population amidst rising climate disruption
Nordic countries prove that advanced economies can maintain natural capital and a high standard of living. Sustainability and competitiveness are not mutually exclusive; they are two sides of the same coin
The two most populated countries, India and China are both affected by a combination of arid climate, high population density and high natural depletion levels, raising concerns over long-term environmental stability
The gap from the global average of 45 to an ideal state is 55. That is not a good basis considering we are facing rapidly increasing climate change impacts
Explore how countries compare across natural capital indicators
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Discover how Natural Capital connects with Economic, Social, Intellectual, and Governance Capital
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