Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters was 3.35 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia, 1965–2023
Source: EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia stood at 3.35 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 84.8% on the previous year and up 143.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia peaked at 22.07 million people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1998.
That places Ethiopia 14th out of 78 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1.50 million people | — |
| 1969 | 1.70 million people | +13.3% |
| 1973 | 50,080 people | -97.1% |
| 1974 | 589,660 people | +1077.4% |
| 1975 | 589,660 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 589,660 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 589,660 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 591,280 people | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 3.11 million people | +425.6% |
| 1984 | 4.64 million people | +49.4% |
| 1987 | 7.00 million people | +50.8% |
| 1989 | 311,783 people | -95.5% |
| 1990 | 1.24 million people | +296.7% |
| 1991 | 1.24 million people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.24 million people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.24 million people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.24 million people | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 986,200 people | -20.5% |
| 1998 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1999 | 1.23 million people | — |
| 2000 | 3.67 million people | +200.0% |
| 2003 | 6.29 million people | +71.2% |
| 2004 | 6.31 million people | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 372,300 people | -94.1% |
| 2006 | 2.23 million people | +498.4% |
| 2008 | 2.86 million people | +28.2% |
| 2009 | 7.27 million people | +154.4% |
| 2010 | 2.48 million people | -65.9% |
| 2011 | 4.43 million people | +78.8% |
| 2012 | 1.38 million people | -68.9% |
| 2015 | 2.05 million people | +48.7% |
| 2016 | 6.12 million people | +199.2% |
| 2017 | 2.03 million people | -66.8% |
| 2021 | 5.48 million people | +170.0% |
| 2022 | 22.07 million people | +302.6% |
| 2023 | 3.35 million people | -84.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 3.35 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.06 million people, 1.6× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 3.35 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.70 million people, 2.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +1077.4% | 50,080 people | 589,660 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.60 million people | 1.50 million people | 1.70 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 500,000 people | 50,080 people | 591,280 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 3.77 million people | 311,783 people | 7.00 million people | 4 |
| 1990s | 1.05 million people | 0 people | 1.24 million people | 8 |
| 2000s | 4.14 million people | 372,300 people | 7.27 million people | 7 |
| 2010s | 3.08 million people | 1.38 million people | 6.12 million people | 6 |
| 2020s | 10.30 million people | 3.35 million people | 22.07 million people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 11 South Sudan 3.69 million people compare
- 12 Burkina Faso 3.50 million people compare
- 13 Malawi 3.48 million people compare
- 15 Papua New Guinea 2.52 million people compare
- 16 Cambodia 2.50 million people compare
- 16 Mexico 2.50 million people compare
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia?
- Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Ethiopia was 3.35 million people in 2023, according to EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual number of people affected by all natural disasters recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.07 million people in 2022.
- What is the lowest annual number of people affected by all natural disasters recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1998.
- How does Ethiopia rank for annual number of people affected by all natural disasters?
- Ethiopia ranks 14th out of 78 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual number of people affected by all natural disasters rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 143.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of people affected by a natural disaster.