Are deaths from natural disasters falling?
As of 2020s, deaths from natural disasters is around 10× lower than a century ago: −90%+ since the 1920s.
Why it changed
Early-warning systems, sturdier housing, and organized evacuation save most of those who once would have died. That number is only as good as the systems behind it — holding around 10× lower than a century ago beyond 2020s means keeping the same funding and policy in place.
Source · Our World in Data CC-BY 4.0 (Our World in Data) Last reviewed 2026-06-30
See one like this every morning.
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What is the source for this number?
Our World in Data. Last reviewed 2026-06-30 — CC-BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
How has this changed since 1920?
−90%+ since the 1920s. As of 2020s, deaths from natural disasters stands at around 10× lower than a century ago.
What still isn’t solved?
Worth remembering: the around 10× lower than a century ago recorded in 2020s is not guaranteed to hold — comparable gains elsewhere have stalled or reversed once attention moved on.