Short answer. We read the official emergency kit lists of 60 governments, item by item. Drinking water is on all 60. A radio is on 58, a torch or flashlight on 57 and spare batteries on 55. Medicines are on 53, a first-aid kit on 50, cash on 49 and documents on 49. Malta and Qatar publish no item list.
Which items does each country's official list name?
"Yes" means at least one line of the official list names the item. Each country links to its full checklist on Phaenyx, and the number in brackets to the official source of the list.
| Country | Drinking water | Radio | Torch or flashlight | First-aid kit | Spare batteries | Medicines | Cash | Documents | Lines on the list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina 1 | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
| Australia 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 |
| Austria 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | 52 |
| Belgium 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 25 |
| Brazil 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 23 |
| Bulgaria 6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 |
| Canada 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 21 |
| Chile 8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 |
| Colombia 9 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 |
| Costa Rica 10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | 36 |
| Croatia 11 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 17 |
| Cyprus 12 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 19 |
| Czech Republic 13 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 26 |
| Denmark 14 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | 21 |
| Estonia 15 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | 17 |
| Finland 16 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | 19 |
| France 17 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 21 |
| Georgia 18 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | – | – | – | 12 |
| Germany 19 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | – | Yes | – | 22 |
| Greece 20 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | 18 |
| Hungary 21 | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 17 |
| Iceland 22 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 |
| India 23 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 |
| Indonesia 24 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 27 |
| Ireland 25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 17 |
| Israel 26 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Italy 27 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | 7 |
| Japan 28 | Yes | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19 |
| Kazakhstan 29 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | 17 |
| Kuwait 30 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 |
| Latvia 31 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Lithuania 32 | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | – | Yes | – | Yes | 25 |
| Luxembourg 33 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 |
| Malaysia 34 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Mexico 35 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 |
| Moldova 36 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 21 |
| Netherlands 37 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| New Zealand 38 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Norway 39 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | 20 |
| Peru 40 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Philippines 41 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Poland 42 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 18 |
| Portugal 43 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Romania 44 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 23 |
| Serbia 45 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 32 |
| Singapore 46 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 18 |
| Slovakia 47 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 36 |
| Slovenia 48 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 53 |
| South Africa 49 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 17 |
| South Korea 50 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | – | – | 30 |
| Spain 51 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
| Sweden 52 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | 25 |
| Switzerland 53 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | 29 |
| Taiwan 54 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 22 |
| Thailand 55 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Turkey 56 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | – | Yes | 16 |
| Ukraine 57 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 26 |
| United Arab Emirates 58 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 28 |
| United Kingdom 59 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| United States 60 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | – | – | 14 |
Which items appear on the most lists?
| Item | Official lists naming it | Share of the 60 lists |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water | 60 | 100 % |
| Radio | 58 | 97 % |
| Torch or flashlight | 57 | 95 % |
| Spare batteries | 55 | 92 % |
| Medicines | 53 | 88 % |
| First-aid kit | 50 | 83 % |
| Cash | 49 | 82 % |
| Documents | 49 | 82 % |
How did we count?
We counted the lines of each official list as transcribed on its Phaenyx checklist page, in English. An item counts when at least one line names it: "water" for water, "radio", "torch" or "flashlight", "batteries", "medicine", "medication" or "prescription", "first aid", "cash" or "money", and "documents", "copies", "passport", "identification", "insurance" or "records" for documents. A line that names several items counts for each of them.
The count reflects the list each government publishes as its household emergency kit. Some governments cover an item elsewhere: Germany's main supply list has no first-aid kit line, Japan's list from the Ministry of Agriculture is about food and water stockpiles, and for the United States the count uses Ready.gov's basic kit of 14 items. Malta and Qatar publish no item list, so they are left out of the 60.
Frequently asked questions
What is on almost every official emergency kit list?
Drinking water (60 of 60 lists), a radio (58) and a torch or flashlight (57). Spare batteries follow, on 55 lists.
Do all governments ask for a first-aid kit?
No. A first-aid kit is on 50 of the 60 lists. Medicines, often your own prescriptions, are on more lists (53).
Where can I see my own country's list?
Each country in the table links to its full official checklist, item by item, with quantities and sources.
Sources · 60
- SINAGIR - Agencia Federal de Emergencias, Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional · Kit de Emergencias checked 2026-10-20
- Get Ready (Queensland Reconstruction Authority), getready.gov.au · Get ready for natural hazards – What to pack in your emergency kit (magnet) checked 2026-10-20
- Österreichischer Zivilschutzverband (Zivilschutzverband Steiermark edition, hosted by Gemeinde St. Anna am Aigen) · Der krisenfeste Haushalt – Bevorraten checked 2026-10-20
- Centre de crise National (NCCN), SPF Intérieur · Un kit d'urgence à la maison checked 2026-10-20
- Coordenadoria Estadual da Defesa Civil do Paraná · Kit de Emergência pessoal checked 2026-10-20
- GDPBZN (pojarna.com, information site of GDPBZN) · Основни материали и средства необходими за окомплектоване на „Раница за бедствия“ checked 2026-10-20
- Public Safety Canada (Canada.ca) · Emergency kits checked 2026-10-20
- SENAPRED · Kit de Emergencia checked 2026-10-20
- Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD) · Guía de preparativos ante sismo checked 2026-10-20
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) · Guía para la Elaboración del Plan Familiar de Gestión del Riesgo (Plan Familiar de Gestión de Riesgo) checked 2026-10-20
- Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova - Ravnateljstvo civilne zaštite · Komplet za preživljavanje checked 2026-10-20
- Cyprus Civil Defence / Press and Information Office · Family Communication Emergency Plan (P.I.O. 41/2026) checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerstvo vnitra ČR · 72 hodin — Nouzové zásoby / Voda / Ukrytí checked 2026-10-20
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed · Forberedt på kriser – sådan klarer du dig selv i tre døgn under en krise checked 2026-10-20
- Päästeamet (Estonian Rescue Board) – Ole valmis! · Emergency supplies checked 2026-10-20
- Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi · General instructions on preparedness, home emergency supplies and on what to do in different situations - Preparing for Incidents and Crises checked 2026-10-20
- Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) · Tous responsables. Face aux risques, agissons : bien préparés, bien protégés, tous engagés checked 2026-10-20
- Emergency Management Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia · საგანგებო სიტუაციების დროს ქცევის წესები (Rules of behaviour in emergencies) checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Checklisten zur Vorsorge – Krisen und Katastrophen checked 2026-10-20
- Γενική Γραμματεία Πολιτικής Προστασίας · Κάνε το δικό σου σχέδιο – Οδηγίες προετοιμασίας για έκτακτες ανάγκες checked 2026-10-20
- BM Országos Katasztrófavédelmi Főigazgatóság · Katasztrófatípusok - Nukleáris veszély checked 2026-10-20
- Rauði krossinn á Íslandi · 3 dagar - Ertu klár? checked 2026-10-20
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Government of India · Earthquakes: Do's & Dont's checked 2026-10-20
- BNPB (Pusat Data, Informasi dan Komunikasi Kebencanaan) · Keluarga Siaga Bencana – Panduan Anti Panik Saat Gempa, Banjir & Krisis Darurat checked 2026-10-20
- Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence · Your checklist (Be Emergency Ready) checked 2026-10-20
- Home Front Command (פיקוד העורף) / National Emergency Portal, hosted on gov.il · משפחה מוכנה היא משפחה בטוחה – ציוד לחירום; הנחיות מצילות חיים בעת ירי רקטות וטילים checked 2026-10-20
- Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (Io non rischio) · Cosa fare - Terremoto checked 2026-10-20
- 農林水産省 (MAFF) · 知って備える 家庭備蓄のイロハ（aff 2026年3月号 特集） checked 2026-10-20
- Министерство по чрезвычайным ситуациям Республики Казахстан · 60 секунд безопасности: Готовы ли вы к землетрясению? checked 2026-10-20
- Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Civil Defence · كيف تعد المخبأ الخاص المؤقت في المنزل checked 2026-10-20
- Latvijas Republikas Aizsardzības ministrija (hosted by VUGD) · Kā rīkoties krīzes gadījumā. Papildinātā redakcija 2024 checked 2026-10-20
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM · LT72 - Preparedness for Emergencies in Lithuania / Food stocks checked 2026-10-20
- Haut-Commissariat à la protection nationale (infocrise.lu) · Kit en situation d'urgence checked 2026-10-20
- Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN), infographic by Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) · BEG KECEMASAN checked 2026-10-20
- Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED) · Prepara tu mochila de emergencia. ¡No lo pienses! checked 2026-10-20
- Inspectoratul General pentru Situații de Urgență (MAI) · Ghidul acțiunilor în situații de risc. Acțiuni în primele 72 de ore checked 2026-10-20
- Denk vooruit (NCTV, Rijksoverheid) · Stel je noodpakket samen checked 2026-10-20
- National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) · Work out what supplies you need (large print, file aug26, produced 2022) checked 2026-10-20
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) · How you can play your part in Norway's emergency preparedness – Advice on emergency preparedness checked 2026-10-20
- Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI) · Comprobar si estás preparado para un sismo checked 2026-10-20
- PTV News (relaying an Office of Civil Defense Facebook post of 24 July 2021) · What's in a 'go bag'? checked 2026-10-20
- Rząd Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (publication 1/2025, ISBN 978-83-976775-0-0) · Poradnik bezpieczeństwa checked 2026-10-20
- Autoridade Nacional de Proteção Civil / Associação Portuguesa de Seguradores · Sismos: Prepare-se e Proteja-se checked 2026-10-20
- Departamentul pentru Situații de Urgență (fiipregatit.ro) · Rucsacul de urgență checked 2026-10-20
- Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova, Sektor za vanredne situacije · Савети грађанима checked 2026-10-20
- Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) · Ready Bag for Emergency checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia · Čo robiť v prípade krízy alebo ozbrojeného konfliktu checked 2026-10-20
- GOV.SI / Uprava RS za zaščito in reševanje (URSZR) · Bodite pripravljeni ob nesrečah checked 2026-10-20
- City of Cape Town · Disaster guidelines checked 2026-10-20
- 행정안전부, hosted by 서울특별시 안전 누리집 · 2024 비상시 국민행동요령(소책자) checked 2026-10-20
- Dirección General de Protección Civil y Emergencias, Unidad de Psicología (Ministerio del Interior) · Plan Familiar de Emergencias (plantilla, con «Kit básico de emergencias (72 horas)») checked 2026-10-20
- Myndigheten för civilt försvar (MCF) · Home preparedness – prepping for at least a week checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesamt für wirtschaftliche Landesversorgung BWL · Kluger Rat – Notvorrat checked 2026-10-20
- 國防部全民防衛動員署 · 準備日常居家儲備 - 臺灣全民安全指引 checked 2026-10-20
- Narathiwat Provincial Public Relations Office, Government Public Relations Department (สำนักงานประชาสัมพันธ์จังหวัดนราธิวาส) · ถุงยังชีพฉุกเฉิน สิ่งของจำเป็นผู้ประสบภัยธรรมชาติ ต้องมีอะไรบ้าง? checked 2026-10-28
- AFAD - Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı · Afet ve Acil Durum Çantası Nasıl Hazırlanmalı? checked 2026-10-20
- Святошинська районна в місті Києві державна адміністрація (Відділ з питань цивільного захисту) · «Тривожна валіза», або Список речей, які повинні бути у вас на випадок … checked 2026-10-20
- National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) · Your Guide for Emergencies checked 2026-10-20
- Cabinet Office (GOV.UK Be Ready) · Be ready for emergencies checked 2026-10-26
- FEMA / Ready.gov · Build A Kit checked 2026-10-20