Current estimates of global flood exposure are made using datasets that distribute
population counts homogenously across large lowland floodplain areas. When intersected
with simulated water depths, this results in a significant mis-estimation. Here, we use new
highly resolved population information to show that, in reality, humans make more rational
decisions about flood risk than current demographic data suggest. In the new data,
populations are correctly represented as risk-averse, largely avoiding obvious flood zones …