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Press Release

Copenhagen – Joint Press Conference - UNISDR, CRED, UNDP and WMO, Copenhagen, United Nations Climate Change Conference
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Press Conference - Figures for 2009

Geneva – The Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) released disaster figures for 2009 today in Geneva at a joint press conference with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Secretariat.

In 2009, 327 disasters killed 10.416 people, affected nearly 113 million others and caused a total of 34.9 billion US$ economic damages. Asia remained the main affected continent. Six of the top 10 countries with the highest number of disaster-related deaths were in Asia.

• 2009 Disasters in numbers - Download in PDF Format (140KB.)
• Press Release 2010 - Download in PDF Format (79KB.)
• Disasters in Numbers 2009 Presentation - Download PDF Format (327KB.)

Press Conference - Figures for 2008

Geneva – 2008 saw a marked increase in the number of deaths and economic losses compared to the 2000-2007 yearly average. The Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) released disaster figures for 2008 today in Geneva at a joint press conference with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Secretariat.

In 2008, 321 disasters killed 235,816 people, affected 211 million others and cost a total of US$181 billion. Asia remained the main affected continent. Nine of the top 10 countries with the highest number of disaster-related deaths were in Asia.

• 2008 Disasters in numbers - Download in PDF Format (147KB.)
• Press Release 2009 - Download in PDF Format (126KB.)
• Disasters in Numbers 2008 - Download PPT Format (1,98MB.)
• Disasters Statistics in Europe - Download PDF Format (131KB.)
• Disasters Statistics in Europe - Download PPT Format (352KB.)

Press Conference - Figures for 2007

The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) unveiled the official figures of the number of natural disasters in 2007 and their impacts at a press conference in Geneva on January 18th, 2008. 2007 saw a marked increase in the number of floods compared with the average of the last seven years, and Asia was the continent hit hardest by disasters.

Eight out of the 10 countries with the highest disaster deaths of 2007 were in Asia, with 4,234 killed in Bangladesh by cyclone Sidr last November, and more than 3,000 fatalities from severe floods in Bangladesh, India, North Korea and China.

Another key point highlighted by the report is the high economic impact that disasters are having on developed countries such as Japan, the United States, and European countries. In a big jump on 2006, disaster losses cost US$62.5 billion in 2007, due in large part to high value assets hit by disasters.

• 2007 Disasters in numbers - Download in PDF Format (145KB.)
• Press Release 2008 - Download in PDF Format (71KB.)

Press Conference - Figures for 2006

The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) unveiled the official figures of the number of natural disasters in 2006 and their impacts at a press conference in Geneva on January 29th, 2007.

Asia remains the continent most hit by natural disasters, with 5,778 persons killed in Indonesia last May by an earthquake and 2,511 deaths in the Philippines due to typhoon Durian in December and a landslide in February.

If Asia is still the continent most impacted by disasters triggered by natural hazards, three european countries: The Netherlands, Belgium and Ukraine rank in 2006 among the top ten countries most affected by deadly disasters.

• 2006 Disasters in numbers - Download in PDF Format (141KB.)
• Press Release 2007 - Download in PDF Format (143KB.)