People displaced internally by natural disasters in Canada

Canada: People displaced internally by natural disasters was 192,000 number of cases in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
192,000 number of cases
Change on year
up 1,180.0%
World rank
22nd
of 146 countries
All-time high
192,000 number of cases
in 2023
All-time low
2,000 number of cases
in 2008
Years of data
12
2008–2023

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

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k2008201520232008: 2.0k number of cases2013: 120.0k number of cases2014: 5.8k number of cases2015: 13.0k number of cases2016: 93.0k number of cases2017: 85.0k number of cases2018: 19.0k number of cases2019: 41.0k number of cases2020: 26.0k number of cases2021: 60.0k number of cases2022: 15.0k number of cases2023: 192.0k 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

In 2023, people displaced internally by natural disasters in Canada stood at 192,000 number of cases. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.

The figure is up 1,180.0% on the previous year and up 60.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people displaced internally by natural disasters in Canada peaked at 192,000 number of cases in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2,000 number of cases, in 2008.

Canada ranks 22nd of 146 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2,000 number of cases 2,000 number of cases 2,000 number of cases 1
2010s 53,829 number of cases 5,800 number of cases 120,000 number of cases 7
2020s 73,250 number of cases 15,000 number of cases 192,000 number of cases 4

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 19 Malaysia 206,000 number of cases compare
  2. 20 United States 202,000 number of cases compare
  3. 21 Mexico 196,000 number of cases compare
  4. 23 Peru 188,000 number of cases compare
  5. 24 South Sudan 167,000 number of cases compare
  6. 25 Nigeria 166,000 number of cases compare

See the full ranking of 146 places →

More reference data data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is people displaced internally by natural disasters in Canada?
People displaced internally by natural disasters in Canada was 192,000 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 Canada?
The highest recorded value was 192,000 number of cases in 2023.
What is the lowest people displaced internally by natural disasters recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 2,000 number of cases in 2008.
How does Canada rank for people displaced internally by natural disasters?
Canada ranks 22nd out of 146 countries with data for 2023.
Is people displaced internally by natural disasters rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Canada 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.