Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2008: The Numbers and Trends

Key points:

• More than 235 000 people were killed, 214 million people were affected and economic costs were over 190 billion US$.
• In 2008, 354 natural disasters were recorded in the EM-DAT database, which is less than the 2000-2007 yearly average number of 397 but thanks to Cyclone Nargis and the Sichuan earthquake the death toll was three times higher than the annual average
• Asia remained the most affected continent with nine of the top 10 countries with the highest number of disaster-related deaths
• As countries move up the development ladder, their economic vulnerability tends to increase. These countries need to invest more in disaster risk reduction measures if they want to better protect development gains.

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