2022 Global natural disaster assessment report
This report provides an account of the number and type of disasters that occurred in 2022, how many people were killed and affected and what were the economic losses.
According to this report, a total of 321 major disasters (excluding epidemic disasters) occurred worldwide in 2022, affecting 118 countries and regions. Among all these disasters, 163 were caused by floods, with the highest frequency, accounting for 50.78% of the total; 66 caused by storms (typhoons and hurricanes), accounting for 20.56%; 30 by earthquakes, accounting for 9.34%; 20 by droughts, accounting for 6.23%; 17 by landslides, accounting for 5.3%; 15 by wildfire disasters, accounting for 4.67%; 6 by extreme temperatures, accounting for 1.87%; and 4 by volcanic eruptions, accounting for 1.25%.
Compared to the average over the last 30 years (1992-2021), the intensity of global disasters was generally lower in 2022, with 3% less in frequency, 38% fewer in deaths, 4% less in the affected population, and 53% more in direct economic losses. Global extreme temperatures in 2022 were in low frequency but were the deadliest events, causing 16,416 deaths. Floods were the most frequent, 14% more than the historical average (which means the average for 1992-2021, hereinafter the same), causing 8,049 deaths, 20% more than the historical average of flood-related deaths. The direct economic losses caused by storms were the most, at about USD 131 billion, 106% more than the historical average. Seismic activities increased but caused fewer deaths. The number of deaths from wildfires decreased, and the direct economic losses were 77% lower than the historical average. The occurrence of landslides decreased, resulting in 54% fewer deaths and 50% less affected population than the historical average. Regionally, Asia has seen the highest frequency of disasters in 2022, followed by Africa.
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