Inventorying hazards & disasters worldwide since 1988
EM-DAT contains data on the occurrence and impacts of over 26,000 mass disasters worldwide from 1900 to the present day. The database is compiled from various sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, reinsurance companies, research institutes, and press agencies. The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) distributes the data in open access for non-commercial use.
Access the data Documentation
Training on National Retrospective Disaster Loss Databases (Manila, Philippines)
The untold story of missing data in disaster research
A systematic review of the empirical literature utilising the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT)
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Training on National Retrospective Disaster Loss Databases
Yaoundé, Cameroon
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CRED Crunch 72 - Earthquakes in Türkiye
A Review from 1900 to Today
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Update of the EM-DAT Public Portal
Check about the Update
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EM-DAT Overview
More than 26,000 disaster records
EM-DAT defines disasters as situations or events which overwhelm local capacity, necessitating a request for external assistance at the national or international level. Disasters are unforeseen and often sudden events that cause significant damage, destruction, and human suffering.
The main objective of the database is to serve the purposes of humanitarian action at national and international levels. The initiative aims to rationalize decision-making for disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction strategies, as well as provide an objective base for vulnerability assessment and priority setting.
Inclusion criteria
EM-DAT focuses on major disasters
EM-DAT globally records at the country level human and economic losses for disasters with at least one of the following criteria:
- 10 fatalities;
- 100 affected people;
- a declaration of state of emergency;
- a call for international assistance.
Disaster Classification
EM-DAT adopts a hierarchical classification
The database classifies disasters into two groups of hazards: natural and technological. The natural group is further classified up to four additional levels following the 2014 IRDR Peril Classification and Hazard Glossary. The technological group is less detailed and comprises three main types: transport, industrial, and miscellaneous accidents.
EM-DAT in numbers
About 2/3 of disasters in EM-DAT are related to natural hazards
>790Drought
>1,570Earthquake
>600Extreme temperature
>5,750Flood
>790Landslide
>4,580Storm
>270Volcanic activity
>450Wildfire
About us
Behind EM-DAT
A long-term expertise
The CRED is now part of the Institute of Health and Society attached to the University of Louvain (UCLouvain). The EM-DAT database and project are primarily sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Host institution
Primary sponsor
