People displaced internally by natural disasters in Australia

Australia: People displaced internally by natural disasters was 4,700 number of cases in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
4,700 number of cases
Change on year
down 72.4%
World rank
82nd
of 146 countries
All-time high
51,000 number of cases
in 2020
All-time low
1,000 number of cases
in 2008
Years of data
16
2008–2023

People displaced internally by natural disasters in Australia, 2008–2023

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k2008201520232008: 1.0k number of cases2009: 7.5k number of cases2010: 1.0k number of cases2011: 10.0k number of cases2012: 16.0k number of cases2013: 13.0k number of cases2014: 1.2k number of cases2015: 5.7k number of cases2016: 3.2k number of cases2017: 31.0k number of cases2018: 11.0k number of cases2019: 25.0k number of cases2020: 51.0k number of cases2021: 49.0k number of cases2022: 17.0k number of cases2023: 4.7k number of cases

Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number of cases.

Analysis

The most recent figure for people displaced internally by natural disasters in Australia is 4,700 number of cases, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 72.4% on the previous year and down 63.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people displaced internally by natural disasters in Australia peaked at 51,000 number of cases in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,000 number of cases, in 2008.

Australia ranks 82nd of 146 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 4,250 number of cases 1,000 number of cases 7,500 number of cases 2
2010s 11,710 number of cases 1,000 number of cases 31,000 number of cases 10
2020s 30,425 number of cases 4,700 number of cases 51,000 number of cases 4

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 80 Belize 5,100 number of cases compare
  2. 80 Tajikistan 5,100 number of cases compare
  3. 83 Iceland 4,600 number of cases compare
  4. 83 United Kingdom 4,600 number of cases compare
  5. 85 Oman 4,500 number of cases compare

See the full ranking of 146 places →

More reference data data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is people displaced internally by natural disasters in Australia?
People displaced internally by natural disasters in Australia was 4,700 number of cases in 2023, according to Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest people displaced internally by natural disasters recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 51,000 number of cases in 2020.
What is the lowest people displaced internally by natural disasters recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 1,000 number of cases in 2008.
How does Australia rank for people displaced internally by natural disasters?
Australia ranks 82nd out of 146 countries with data for 2023.
Is people displaced internally by natural disasters rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 63.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People displaced internally by natural disasters. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
People displaced internally by natural disasters
Unit
number of cases
Source
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
146 places, 1,631 data points, 2008–2023
Last refreshed

Internally-displaced persons are defined as people or groups of people who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, as a result of natural or human-made disasters and who have not crossed an international border.