Disaster preparedness spans household actions, warning systems, public plans, resilient infrastructure and disaster-risk finance. The statistics below distinguish observed results, surveys and modelled estimates by geography and measurement period.
Key Disaster Preparedness Statistics
The most useful headline measures include:
- Recorded disasters increased fivefold globally over the past 50 years, according to a 2023 UNDRR summary.
- Global direct disaster-related economic losses averaged more than $110 billion per year in 2015–2024 across countries reporting to the UN.
- Global disaster mortality fell from 2.11 to 0.75 deaths per 100,000 population when 2015–2024 was compared with 2005–2014, excluding COVID-19-related cases.
- The disaster-affected population rate rose from 1,199 to 2,445 people per 100,000 population between those same global periods.
- Around 123 million people were impacted by disasters each year globally in 2015–2024, an approximate UN figure based on reported data.
- 67% of US adults aged 18–59 and 72% aged 60+ had emergency supplies set aside in a 2024 survey.
- 58% of US adults aged 18–59 and 52% aged 60+ reported owning an emergency plan in 2024.
- 108 countries, or 55% of all countries, reported a multi-hazard early-warning system by March 2024.
- Countries with substantial-to-comprehensive early-warning coverage recorded 0.63 disaster deaths per 100,000 people in 2005–2023, compared with 3.79 in limited-to-moderate countries.
- 2.1 billion people were pre-emptively evacuated globally during 2015–2022, with 64% of those evacuations in Asia-Pacific.
- Countries with national disaster-risk-reduction strategies rose from 57 in 2015 to 131 in 2023.
- Least developed countries accounted for 29% of global disaster deaths but 12% of reporting-country populations in 2015–2024.
- 84% of surveyed persons with disabilities reported no personal preparedness plan in 2023, compared with 71% in the 2013 survey.
- Natural disasters affected nearly 50 million people in the European Union between 1980 and 2020.
- An average of 91,847 critical-infrastructure units were damaged or destroyed each year in 2015–2024 in countries reporting to the UN.
- More than 1.5 million basic-service disruptions occurred each year on average in 2015–2024, based on reported global data.
Contents
- Global disaster preparedness risk and exposure trends
- Household disaster preparedness actions
- Early-warning systems and disaster outcomes
- National and local preparedness planning
- Vulnerable populations and preparedness gaps
- Economic costs and preparedness finance
- Infrastructure, services and preparedness gaps
Global Disaster Preparedness Statistics: Risk and Exposure Trends
Recorded disasters increased fivefold globally over the past 50 years, although the UNDRR summary cautions that this covers recorded disasters and does not necessarily capture every event. Reported impacts therefore need to be read alongside changing exposure, definitions and reporting coverage.
The UN Statistics Division reported these global comparisons for countries providing data:
| Measure | Earlier period | Later period | Geography and definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disaster mortality | 2.11 deaths per 100,000 | 0.75 deaths per 100,000 | Global; 2005–2014 vs. 2015–2024; COVID-19 excluded |
| Affected population rate | 1,199 per 100,000 | 2,445 per 100,000 | Global; 2005–2014 vs. 2015–2024 |
| Average annual deaths | Baseline | 53% lower | Global period comparison; COVID-19 excluded |
Reported direct disaster losses averaged more than $110 billion per year, or 0.28% of reporting countries’ GDP, during 2015–2024. The loss figures understate cascading and ecosystem losses, and GDP denominators and reporting practices vary by country (Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026: Goal 13 Climate Action).
The same UN comparison estimated approximately 123 million people impacted each year globally in 2015–2024. Including cascading effects and ecosystem damage, an annual estimate reported in 2026 placed total losses above $2.3 trillion, which is not directly comparable with reported direct losses (Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026: Goal 13 Climate Action).
Household Disaster Preparedness Statistics and Emergency Actions
The 2024 FEMA National Household Survey measured self-reported preparedness actions among US adults by age. These percentages describe whether respondents reported an action, not whether the action was adequate or tested.
| Preparedness action | Ages 18–59 | Ages 60+ | Geography and period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency supplies set aside | 67% | 72% | United States, 2024 survey |
| Emergency plan | 58% | 52% | United States, 2024 survey |
| Alert and warning enrollment | 69% | 68% | United States, 2024 survey |
| Know evacuation routes | 49% | 39% | United States, 2024 survey |
| Participated in an emergency drill | 27% | 7% | United States, 2024 survey |
| Safeguarded important documents | 64% | 73% | United States, 2024 survey |
| Money set aside for an emergency | 58% | 73% | United States, 2024 survey |
| Homeowners or renters insurance | 66% | 88% | United States, 2024 survey |
The survey also found that 65% of adults aged 18–59 and 57% of adults aged 60+ reported a family-contact plan. Neighbor-communication plans were reported by 47% and 38%, respectively; home improvements to mitigate property damage by 61% and 52%; and community-preparation volunteering by 20% and 4% (2024 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness Findings).
FEMA’s 2022 household survey found that 42% of US households intended to prepare for identified hazards in the future but had not started, while 14% said they did not intend to prepare. The latter measure was 17% in 2017, 9% in 2020 and 14% in 2022; these cross-year results may reflect changing samples and conditions (2023 National Preparedness Report).
Early-Warning System Coverage and Disaster Preparedness Outcomes
Early-warning systems are a measurable preparedness capability, but country comparisons remain observational. UNDRR uses country-reported Sendai Framework scores and self-assessed composite coverage, so differences show association rather than a controlled causal effect.
| Multi-hazard early-warning coverage | Disaster deaths, 2005–2023 | People affected, 2005–2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Limited to moderate | 3.79 per 100,000 | 3,087 per 100,000 |
| Substantial to comprehensive | 0.63 per 100,000 | 881 per 100,000 |
By March 2024, 108 countries, or 55% of all countries, reported a multi-hazard early-warning system. In a related 2023 comparison, 101 countries reported such a system, double the 2015 number; those countries recorded 4.05 deaths per 100,000 in the limited-to-moderate group versus 0.71 in the substantial-to-comprehensive group, and 3,132 affected people per 100,000 versus 688 (Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems 2024).
Pre-emptive evacuation data show the scale of anticipatory action: 2.1 billion people were evacuated during 2015–2022, and 64% of those evacuations occurred in Asia-Pacific. At least 62 million people directly affected by disasters in approximately 2003–2022 lived in countries without operational early-warning systems, while one-third of the global population lacked any early-warning protection in 2023 (Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems 2024; GAR 2023 Special Report: Mapping Resilience for the Sustainable Development Goals).
National and Local Disaster Preparedness Planning Data
National planning expanded between 2015 and 2023, but the presence of a strategy does not measure implementation quality. UNDRR reports that countries with national disaster-risk-reduction strategies rose from 57 to 131, with the 2023 total representing about two-thirds of reporting countries.
Local planning also increased: countries reporting local DRR strategies rose from 50 in 2015 to 110 in 2023. Among countries reporting local strategies, the average share of local governments covered rose from 68% to 73%, an average that is not population-weighted (Snapshot of Sendai Framework Monitoring).
A separate Sendai snapshot counted 129 countries with national DRR strategies in 2023, compared with 57 in 2015; the reporting cut differs slightly from other UNDRR pages. Of 101 countries reporting multi-hazard warning systems in 2023, 95 also reported a national DRR strategy, while 78% of WMO members reported standard operating procedures with registered authorities and stakeholders for early warnings (Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems 2024).
Disaster Preparedness Statistics for Vulnerable Populations
Disaster burdens are unevenly distributed across country groups. During 2015–2024, least developed countries accounted for nearly 13% of reported global losses while representing 1.36% of global GDP, and they accounted for 29% of disaster deaths while representing 12% of reporting-country populations.
| Country group | Share of disaster deaths or mortality | Population share | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Least developed countries | 29% | 12% | 2015–2024 |
| Landlocked developing countries | 21% | 5.1% | 2015–2024 |
| Small island developing states | 1.6% | 0.5% | 2015–2024 |
Landlocked developing countries accounted for 21% of disaster deaths and 5.1% of reporting-country populations. Small island developing states accounted for 1.6% of disaster mortality and 0.5% of the population; these are share comparisons, not per-capita mortality rates (Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026: Goal 13 Climate Action).
Preparedness gaps also appear in disability-survey responses. In the 2023 global survey of persons with disabilities, 84% reported no personal preparedness plan, compared with 71% in the 2013 survey; consequently, the share reporting a plan fell from 29% to 16%, although the samples and survey design may not be identical (2023 Global Survey Report on Persons with Disabilities and Disasters).
Economic Costs and Disaster Preparedness Finance
In the European Union, recorded natural disasters affected nearly 50 million people between 1980 and 2020, while average annual economic losses were €12 billion. The figures summarize recorded events and depend on economic valuation methods (Economics for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness in Europe).
The World Bank and European Commission analysis covered 74 resilience-investment cases. Its modelled risk assessment estimated that major flood and earthquake impacts could reach 7%–17% of GDP in some European countries, while European governments might need to finance about €16 billion of disaster costs each year through public or external sources.
In selected countries, a modelled disaster-risk-finance comparison reduced the ratio of government liabilities to GDP from 0.58% to 0.46%. These are scenario and case-analysis results, not universal forecasts or guaranteed effects for every country or project (Economics for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness in Europe).
Infrastructure, Services and Disaster Preparedness Gaps
Reported infrastructure and service disruptions show why preparedness extends beyond individual emergency kits. Across countries reporting to the UN, an average of 91,847 critical-infrastructure units were damaged or destroyed each year during 2015–2024.
More than 1.5 million disruptions to basic services occurred yearly on average in 2015–2024, including continuity of health and education services. A separate 2015–2023 Sendai snapshot reported more than 1.6 million educational, health and other basic services disrupted by disasters each year; the figures overlap conceptually but use different periods and reporting snapshots (Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026: Goal 13 Climate Action; Snapshot of Sendai Framework Monitoring).
Direct economic loss averaged about 0.3% of global GDP for reporting countries during 2015–2023. This rounded Sendai measure covers reported direct loss rather than total welfare loss, so it should not be combined arithmetically with broader estimates that include cascading or ecosystem damage (Snapshot of Sendai Framework Monitoring).