Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in India
India: Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters was 4.90 million people in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in India, 1900–2019
Source: EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
India recorded 4.90 million people for annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in 2019.
That represents a change of up 48.4% on the previous year and down 97.0% over five years.
Over the whole period, annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in India peaked at 300.00 million people in 1987 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1900.
India ranks 8th of 78 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 India, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0 people | — |
| 1942 | 0 people | — |
| 1964 | 666,000 people | — |
| 1965 | 33.33 million people | +4905.0% |
| 1966 | 33.33 million people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 33.33 million people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 100.14 million people | +200.4% |
| 1973 | 99.86 million people | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 10.00 million people | -90.0% |
| 1982 | 36.96 million people | +269.6% |
| 1983 | 63.04 million people | +70.6% |
| 1987 | 300.00 million people | +375.9% |
| 1993 | 1.18 million people | -99.6% |
| 1996 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2000 | 21.48 million people | — |
| 2001 | 28.52 million people | +32.7% |
| 2002 | 300.00 million people | +952.1% |
| 2009 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 164.77 million people | — |
| 2016 | 165.23 million people | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 3.30 million people | -98.0% |
| 2019 | 4.90 million people | +48.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 4.90 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 933,054 people, 5.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +4905.0% | 666,000 people | 33.33 million people |
| 2002 | +952.1% | 28.52 million people | 300.00 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 1 |
| 1940s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 1 |
| 1960s | 25.17 million people | 666,000 people | 33.33 million people | 4 |
| 1970s | 70.00 million people | 10.00 million people | 100.14 million people | 3 |
| 1980s | 133.33 million people | 36.96 million people | 300.00 million people | 3 |
| 1990s | 587,500 people | 0 people | 1.18 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 87.50 million people | 0 people | 300.00 million people | 4 |
| 2010s | 84.55 million people | 3.30 million people | 165.23 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in India?
- Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in India was 4.90 million people in 2019, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 300.00 million people in 1987.
- What is the lowest annual number of people affected by all natural disasters recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1900.
- How does India rank for annual number of people affected by all natural disasters?
- India ranks 8th out of 78 countries with data for 2019.
- Where does this India 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.