Measuring need, directing aid.

CAPE Vulnerability Index

The Compassion, Assertive action, Pragmatism and Evidence (CAPE) Vulnerability Index is a global foreign policy tool that ranks countries by their need for foreign aid and helps determine how that aid should be prioritised. Grounded in evidence and structured reasoning, it approaches bilateral agreements through the lens of mental health, offering a principled framework for aid allocation.

The Index draws on nine indicators measured at a country level, spanning health outcomes, economic conditions, and governance. Specifically, these cover: life expectancy, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), physicians per person, GDP per capita, income inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient, active conflicts, refugees by country of origin, corruption perceptions, and external aid received per capita. Where available, each indicator is displayed at country level in the map below, with data drawn from the most recent source as of March 2026.

Sources: World Development Indicators (Life expectancy, Physicians per 1,000 people, GDP per capita, GINI coefficient, Current conflicts (deaths) ≥1,000 per year; Refugees; Net Overseas Development Aid received per capita (current US$))

Global Burden of Disease (DALYs)

Corruption Perception Index (Corruption perception metrics)

Prior editions of the CAPE have been published, beginning in 2020, at both a global and regional level. These can be viewed in more detail through the following links.