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 as of 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.
Progress Tab replaces your new tab with one verified number about the world. You guess first, then see the truth.
Add to Chrome Free · no account · opens on every new tabCommon questions
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?
It is worth remembering that 2020s's around 10× lower than a century ago is not guaranteed to hold: comparable gains elsewhere have stalled or reversed once attention moved on.