Extreme heat was the deadliest weather condition in the United States in 2023, resulting in a total of 207 lives lost that year. This was followed by fire weather, having caused 103 fatalities. On the other side of the spectrum, only one life was lost due to ice in the North American country that year.

From 1980 to 1989, the number of deaths due to climate disasters was about 667 thousand, the highest in recent years. In the following decade, the number of deaths dropped to 329 thousand. After 2010, the number of deaths due to climate disasters dropped to 185 thousand, down by 140 thousand from the previous decade.

Winter weather-related deaths amounted to 1,541 instances in the United States between 2009 to 2019. This was a 93 percent increase compared to the previous decade. Wildfire deaths have seen the largest rate of growth in the U.S. with a 160 percent increase.

In 2024, 568 people died due to weather disaster events in the United States. During the previous decade (2010-2019), 5,227 fatalities were reported caused by billion-dollar climate and weather disasters.

Between 1980 and 2023, there were a total of 16,350 deaths associated with billion-dollar weather and climate disasters across the United States. Tropical cyclones such as hurricanes were some of the most deadly events, contributing to nearly 6,900 deaths during that period.

From 1970 to 2021, there were about two million reported deaths due to weather, climate, and water extreme disasters. Of these deaths, 38 percent were due to tropical cyclones, while another 35 percent were caused by droughts.

This statistic shows the share of occurrence and death tolls for weather-related disasters worldwide in the period from 1995 to 2015, by national income level. During the past 20 years, around 13 percent of weather-related disasters affected lower-income countries.

Natural disasters and loss – additional information

The years 2014 and 2015 are two of the hottest years recorded since the 1880s. In 2014, there were 20 deaths caused by extreme heat in the United States. The increased risk of extreme weather due to climate change has put pressure on countries to develop regulations to better protect infrastructure and human health. Between 1995 and 2015, about a third of the global weather-related disasters occurred in lower-middle income countries, however, almost half of the deaths due to these events affected these countries. The number of deaths caused by the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar contributed significantly to these statistics. In high-income countries, weather-related deaths are largely due to heat waves. The actual number of casualties in low-income countries is estimated to be much higher and may reflect a lack of reporting.

China and India have been among the most severely impacted countries in the world in terms of weather catastrophes, accounting for some 3 billion people that have been affected between 1995 and 2015. Economic loss due to these events totaled some 47 billion U.S. dollars in the Asia and Oceania regions. Millions of houses as well as public institutions such as schools, clinics, and hospitals have been damaged by weather-related disasters, primarily due to floods and storms. Over the last decades, countries have improved their preparedness as well as their response to natural disasters. Several countries in Asia have begun to follow the Hyogo Framework for Action, a guideline developed to help reduce disaster risk, in efforts to reduce the losses derived from these catastrophes.

In 2023, a total of 78 people across Haiti lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters. This represented an increase when compared to the previous year, up from just seven people. Over the past three decades, figures reached a record high in 2004, when a total of 5,422 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change. In May that year, two weeks of torrential rainfall caused extensive and devastating floods in the small island.

By 2099, climate change could be one of the leading causes of death in the world. With an increase of 3.5 degrees Celsius in mean surface temperature compared to a pre-industrial average, it was estimated that around 45 people per 100,000 population could die in that year due to effects caused by climate change. Only death rates from heart disease and strokes would surpass that value.

In 2023, storms caused nearly 15,000 deaths across the globe. the third-largest figure recorded since 1990. In the past three decades, the highest annual deathtoll due to storms was registered in 1991, when storm events were responsible for the death of more than 146 thousand people worldwide. That year, a massive cyclone hit Bangladesh, becoming one of the deadliest storms of the century. The death count due to storms was also remarkably high in 2008, mainly associated with a cyclone which hit Myanmar in May.

Lightning and thunderstorms were the leading cause for extreme weather event-related deaths in India in 2022, with 1,285 recorded fatalities. Other extreme weather events that resulted in several lives lost were floods and heavy rains. Thunder and lightning in India

India is amongst the leading countries in terms of annual lightning strikes. Lightning is the result of an electric discharge between clouds or between clouds and the earth. The warmer temperatures experienced during India’s monsoon season facilitate the quick formation of clouds that create suitable conditions for these lightning strikes. Sadly, there are many deaths attributed to lightning strikes every year across the country.

Effects of extreme weather in India

The average annual economic damage due to climate-related events in India approached 90 billion U.S. dollars in recent years. In addition to financial losses and physical damage, the loss of life caused by extreme weather affects all parts of the country. Strikingly, a survey conducted across the South Asian country found that most Indians believed that they would be affected by a major natural disaster.

In 2023, a total of 166 people across Brazil lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters. This represented a decrease when compared to the previous year, down from over 500 people. Since 1990, figures reached a record high in 2011, when a total of 978 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change. That year, the South American country experienced heavy rains for several consecutive days, which resulted in floods and landslides that affected a significant number of people.

In 2023, a total of 785 people across Latin America and the Caribbean lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters. This represented a decline when compared to the previous year, down from 1,125 people. Since 1990, figures reached a record high in 1999, when a total of 31,000 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change.

In 2022, a total of 25 people across Puerto Rico lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters. Since 1992, figures reached a record high in 2017, when a total of 46 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change.

In 2023, a total of 12 people across Venezuela lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters. This represented a decrease when compared to the previous year, down from 140 people. Since 1993, figures reached a record high in 1999, when a total of 30,000 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change. In December that year, torrential rains in the northern state of La Guaira – known as Vargas State until 2019 – caused flooding and debris flows that killed thousands of people – what is known as the Vargas tragedy.

A total of three people across Costa Rica lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters in 2021. Over the past three decades, figures reached a record high in 1996, when a total of 60 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change.

Heatwave events across the European region accounted for up to 91 percent of the fatalities caused due to extreme weather and climate events between 1980 and 2020. Heatwave events were also the third highest cause of economic losses caused by weather and climate events during that period, accounting for up to 14 percent of losses.

Over the past three decades, Jamaica saw the largest death toll from climate change-related disasters in 2004, after a total of 16 people lost their lives. Climate change-related disasters include storms, floods, wet mass movements, extreme temperatures, droughts and fires.

In 2023, a total of 142 people across Peru lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters. This represented an increase when compared to the previous year, up from some 11 people. Since 1990, figures reached a record high in 1997, when a total of 818 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change. That year, the South American country was hit by catastrophic flooding and subsequent mudslides during an unforgettable El Niño episode.

In 2023, a total of 104 people across Mexico lost their lives due to climate change-related disasters. This was roughly double the figure recorded one year prior. Since 1990, figures reached a record high in 1998, when a total of 849 people died due to storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters related to climate change. That year, the Latin American country was hit by catastrophic flooding as well as wildfires. In addition to that, hurricane Georges traversed the Gulf of Mexico in September 1998.