The Global Multihazard Mortality Risks and Distribution is a 2.5 minute grid identifying and characterizing the nature of multihazard risk at the global scale. For this study, multihazard considers the hazards posed by cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, floods, landslides and volcanoes. The specific hazards are grouped into the following hazard categories: drought (drought), seismic (earthquakes and volcanoes), and hydro (cyclones, floods, and landslides). Each grid cell is assessed for each hazard category; and is considered at high risk or not at high risk. Treated as a binary value, the at-risk values of the hazards categories function as a 3-digit index of multihazard.

For each of the hazard category combinations, aggregate analyses determine the total population, area, and length of major transportation features, as well as, the value of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and agricultural GDP. This data set is the result of collaboration among the Columbia University Center for Hazards and Risk Research (CHRR), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank, and Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).