Brazilian Journal of Enviromnent
Open Access Journal
CiteScore
0.5
Indexada na
SCOPUS
QUALIS
B2
2021-2024
quadriênio
Open Access Journal
0.5
Indexada na
SCOPUS
B2
2021-2024
quadriênio
Climate change intensifies extreme events and exacerbates challenges related to water management, increasing risks of scarcity, water quality degradation, and social vulnerability. In this context, water vulnerability indices emerge as strategic tools to anticipate risks, guide adaptive measures, and support public policies. This study aims to analyze recurring methodologies in the construction of such indices, identifying trends, key authors, countries, institutions, and indicators. The research was conducted in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, resulting in 65 articles published between 1999 and 2025. Data were processed in RStudio and analyzed in two stages: (i) performance analysis (authors, journals, countries, and citations) using Bibliometrix; and (ii) scientific mapping (co-authorship, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, and bibliographic coupling) using VOSviewer. Results indicate a continuous growth of publications since 2010, with a marked increase in recent years. Ecological Indicators and Journal of Hydrology were the most productive journals, while authors such as Pandey V and Babel M showed higher impact. China, the United States, and Iran lead in scientific output, with China standing out for international collaboration. Content analysis highlights methodological diversity, including indicator aggregation models (VI) and quantitative hydrological frameworks (RRV, DFAAI), each with specific advantages, limitations, and scales of application. It is concluded that no universal model exists; instead, complementary approaches must be adapted to regional and institutional contexts. These indices represent strategic instruments to strengthen water resilience in the face of climate change.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Antonio Lucas, Carla Beatriz Costa de Araújo