GAR 2015 Main Report

Part I - Chapter 2

mortality since 1990 is concentrated in only four events (Cyclone Gorky in Bangladesh in 1991, the Indian Ocean tsunamis in 2004, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in 2008 and the Haiti earthquake in 2010). While mortality might appear to be on the rise, this trend is not statistically significant and changes arbitrarily depending on the time period chosen and the specific intensive disasters occurring in that period.6

2.2 Economic loss reduced?

Absolute economic loss is rising, but in relative terms, the global increase in economic loss from disasters is not statistically significant. However, in some regions, losses have outstripped GDP growth. While absolute economic loss is concentrated in higher-income countries, in relative terms it remains a far greater problem for lowincome countries.

Most high-income countries have the regulatory quality and have made investments to significantly reduce the more extensive layers of disaster risk associated with losses occurring over short return periods. In addition, the citizens of these countries enjoy high levels of social protection, including effective emergency services and health coverage, meaning that highincome countries account for less than 12 per cent of internationally reported disaster mortality (Figure 2.1).

(Source: UNISDR with data from national loss databases.)

Figure 2.5 Mortality from disasters concentrated in few intensive events

	48 Part I - Chapter 2 mortality since 1990 is concentrated in only four events (Cyclone Gorky in Bangladesh in 1991, the Indian Ocean tsunamis in 2004, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in 2008 and the Haiti earthquake in 2010). While mortality might appear to be on the rise, this trend is not statistically significant and changes arbitrarily depending on the time period chosen and the specific intensive disasters occurring in that period.6 2.2 Economic loss reduced? Absolute economic loss is rising, but in relative terms, the global increase in economic loss from disasters is not statistically significant. However, in some regions, losses have outstripped GDP growth. While absolute economic loss is concentrated in higher-income countries, in relative terms it remains a far greater problem for lowincome countries. Most high-income countries have the regulatory quality and have made investments to significantly reduce the more extensive layers of disaster risk associated with losses occurring over short return periods. In addition, the citizens of these countries enjoy high levels of social protection, including effective emergency services and health coverage, meaning that highincome countries account for less than 12 per cent of internationally reported disaster mortality (Figure 2.1). (Source: UNISDR with data from national loss databases.) Figure 2.5 Mortality from disasters concentrated in few intensive events	Page 1 Page 10 Page 20 Page 30 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 ->Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 70 Page 80 Page 90 Page 100 Page 110 Page 120 Page 130 Page 140 Page 150 Page 160 Page 170 Page 180 Page 190 Page 200 Page 210 Page 220 Page 230 Page 240 Page 250 Page 260 Page 270 Page 280 Page 290 Page 300 Page 310