Climate Vulnerability in Bangladesh: A Review of Taxonomy, Geographic, and Methodological Perspectives

Vulnerability assessment is central to understanding climate-related risks in Bangladesh. This review synthesised 67 quantitative and mixed-method studies published between 2010 and 2024 to map vulnerability types, their geographic focus, and methodological approaches. Results show that livelihood vulnerability was the most frequently studied topic, coastal areas, particularly Khulna district, received the most attention, and research output increased markedly after 2020. Methodologically, index-based assessments anchored in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change dimensions (exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity) and cross-sectional household surveys dominated, while longitudinal and participatory approaches were rare. Important gaps were identified: physical and economic vulnerabilities were rarely examined as primary topics, several regions (e.g. Haor Basin, chars, floodplains, and northwest) remain underrepresented, and indicator sets and methods lack standardisation. To better inform adaptation, future research should prioritise standalone physical and economic vulnerability assessments, standardise indicators for comparability, expand funding and capacity to underrepresented regions, and promote longitudinal and participatory methods that link findings to actionable adaptation measures. Key implications include prioritising resources for physical/economic vulnerability analyses, targeting adaptation investments to under-researched regions, and integrating standardised, evidence-based vulnerability metrics into national adaptation planning.