Natural disaster risk assessment is a key method to integrated disaster risk management. This paper summarizes the analytical units, hazard types and main data sources of three important international programs: DRI, Hotspots and American Program that were developed and carried out for natural disaster risk assessment in recent years. The data processing measures, calculation models and detailed assessment methods of the three international programs are reviewed. Calculation of DRI′s indicators includes three steps: calculation of physical exposure, relative vulnerability and vulnerability indicators. For the first time Hotspots utilized grid cells and region /wealth classes to calculate death risk and economic loss risk. American Program developed four independent indicators' models respectively, and applied at city level as well. We suggest that the future disaster risk assessment should be focused on risk temporal and spatial variability, dynamic risk assessment and case study through comparing the advantages and weaknesses between the three natural disaster risk assessment international programs.