West Africa Coastal Vulnerability Mapping: Economic Systems Index

The West Africa Coastal Vulnerability Mapping: Economic Systems Index is a composite index based on several spatial indicators, including gridded Gross Domestic Product (GDP), nighttime lights as a proxy for urban built-up and industrial areas, and cocoa, coconut, palm oil, rubber, and banana production in metric tons. It covers the coastal region of West Africa within 200 km of the coast. Population growth in the coastal zone is mostly a function of migration related to coastal economic activities; this indicator provides insights into highly exposed coastal areas that not only have high levels of economic activity but also high population growth and migration.