摘要Rural settlements have experienced a noticeable increase in extreme weather events and associated disasters in recent years.Pakistan is consistently ranked as one of the most affected regions globally,and the catastrophic floods of 2022 further under-scored its vulnerability to floods,causing unprecedented human,economic,and environmental losses.This study conducted a multidimensional vulnerability assessment of flood-prone rural areas in Dera Ismail Khan,Pakistan,using a composite index approach informed by principal component analysis(PCA).Principal component analysis was employed to assign statisti-cally robust weights to selected indicators,ensuring an objective aggregation of vulnerability components.A questionnaire with a mix of closed-ended and open-ended items was used to collect data through a household survey.The findings revealed that a substantial proportion(40％)of respondents experienced high multidimensional vulnerability,while approximately 30％exhibited moderate vulnerability.Factors such as age distribution,household income,infrastructure quality,and risk perception significantly contributed to overall vulnerability.This study developed a scalable and replicable model for assess-ing rural flood vulnerability,offering practical insights for policymakers,planners,and disaster management authorities.