This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Land subsidence is the gradual sinking of the ground, which can damage buildings, foundations, and drainage and sewage systems, and may increase flood risks. However, information on land subsidence dynamics remains limited, which makes it difficult for policymakers to identify where risks are intensifying and where urgent intervention may be needed.
Previous assessments have often used different methods or time periods, or focused only on small numbers of cities, which has made global comparisons difficult. Shengli Tao, Xie Hu and colleagues analyzed high-resolution satellite data collected between 2014 and 2023 to measure land movement across 465 cities in 107 countries. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Cities.
Parts of Mexico City recorded the fastest localized sinking, at approximately 217 mm per year (8.5 inches per year), although its citywide median sinking rate was 8 mm per year (0.3 inches per year). Torreón (also in Mexico) experienced about 17 mm of sinking per year (0.7 inches per year). At a regional level, the most severe sinking rates were found in Asia, with Medan (approximately 33 mm per year (1.3 inches per year)), Bandung, Indonesia (22 mm per year (0.9 inches per year)), and Isfahan, Iran (11 mm per year (0.4 inches per year)) experiencing the highest citywide median sinking rates.
Annual land movement was generally stable in Boston, New York City, London, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, Montevideo and Naples, with estimated sinking and uplift rates ranging from 0.1 to 1.9 mm per year (0.004 to 0.075 inches per year). Given their small size, these measurements should be interpreted cautiously. The authors caution that the nine-year study focused on relative local land subsidence of large cities, may exclude areas beyond administrative boundaries and has greater uncertainty where ground-station coverage is sparse.
Continued monitoring could confirm whether these trends persist and support targeted responses. Shengli Tao, A global view of urban land subsidence and its changing trajectories, Nature Cities (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s44284-026-00527-8. www.nature.com/articles/s44284-026-00527-8 BA art history, MA material culture.
Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile → Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing.
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