In 2015, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released data on vulnerable populations in natural disaster settings. The State of World Population 2015 measures indicators of natural disasters to quantify its burden on population health. Between 1994 and 2014, the most frequent type of recorded natural disasters was flooding, and most people are affected by flooding and drought. UNFPA also estimated the number of people affected by droughts, earthquakes, epidemics, floods, storms, and other types in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Most people affected by natural disaster lived in Asia.
These data not only make the case for targeting Asian countries for disaster preparedness and response, but also support robust, evidence-based policy efforts to address climate change. UNFPA indicators demonstrate how natural disasters shape population health outcomes.
Databyte via The State of World Population, 2015, United States Population Fund (UNFPA).
