Natural Disaster Facts and Statistics

• According to a 2020 report by the United Nations, since 1994, more

than 5 billion people have been affected by disasters, which claimed
nearly 2 million lives and cost US$2.5 trillion in economic losses.
• Low- and lower-middle-income countries are
disproportionately affected by natural disasters. In the
same period, 33 percent of countries that experienced disasters were low-
to lower-middle income, but 81 percent of people who died in disasters
lived in these countries.
Why Are Developing Countries More
Vulnerable to Natural Disasters?
• Women and children in developing countries are often the
most vulnerable demographic groups after natural disasters.
• 8 out of 10 of the world’s cities most at risk to natural disasters are in
the Philippines.
• Natural disasters affect the number of people living below
the poverty line, increasing their numbers by more than 50
percent in some cases. The problem is getting worse; up to 325 million
extremely poor people are expected to live in the 49 most hazard-prone
countries by 2030.

https://www.childfund.org/Content/NewsDetail/2147489272/
Human Factors and the Severity of Natural
Disasters
There are several
human factors that influence the
severity of a natural disaster. Even within the same region, different
people have different levels of vulnerability to natural hazards.

• Wealth: People living in poverty cannot afford adequate housing or infrastructure.

They are unable to acquire resources needed before and after a disaster strikes.

• Education: Education increases awareness about avoiding or reducing the

impact of disasters. A better-educated population will have more professionals trained
to prepare for catastrophic natural events.

• Governance: Governments can set policies and establish infrastructure to

reduce vulnerability to hazards. Some governments have more resources available to
dedicate to disaster risk reduction.
• Technology: Technology allows us to forecast weather,
significantly reducing vulnerability.
• Age: Children and the elderly are more vulnerable because
they have less physical strength and weaker immune systems.
Children and the elderly are more dependent on others for
survival but may not have anyone to depend upon after disaster
strikes.
• Gender: Women are more likely to be poorer and less
educated than men, making them more vulnerable to hazards.
https://www.childfund.org/Content/NewsDetail/2147489272/
DISASTERS AND ITS
EFFECTS
ACTIVITY