The EM-DAT (Emergency Events Database) is the world’s most comprehensive database on natural and technological disasters, used extensively by governments, the UN system, researchers, and disaster-risk policymakers.
What is EM-DAT?
- Maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), University of Louvain, Belgium
- Established in 1988
- Supported by WHO and UN agencies
- Records disasters globally from 1900 to the present
Criteria for Inclusion
An event is recorded if any one of the following conditions is met:
- 10 or more deaths
- 100 or more people affected
- Declaration of a state of emergency
- Call for international assistance
Types of Disasters Covered
- Natural Disasters
- Geophysical (earthquakes, volcanoes)
- Meteorological (storms)
- Hydrological (floods)
- Climatological (droughts, heatwaves, wildfires)
- Biological (epidemics, pandemics)
- Technological Disasters
- Industrial accidents
- Transport accidents
- Miscellaneous accidents
Key Global Trends from EM-DAT Analysis
1. Rising Frequency of Disasters
- Sharp increase in reported disasters since the 1970s
- Driven largely by climate-related events such as floods, cyclones, droughts, and heatwaves
- Improved reporting explains part of the rise, but climate change is the dominant factor
2. Climate Disasters Dominate
- Floods and storms account for the largest share of disasters globally
- Heatwaves, though fewer, cause disproportionately high mortality
- Droughts cause the highest long-term socio-economic stress
3. Mortality vs Economic Loss Paradox
- Developing countries suffer:
- Higher death tolls
- Greater human suffering
- Developed countries suffer:
- Lower mortality
- Much higher economic losses due to asset concentration and insurance coverage
4. Asia as the Most Disaster-Prone Region
- Asia records the highest number of disasters and affected population
- South and Southeast Asia are hotspots for:
- Floods
- Cyclones
- Earthquakes
- India, China, Bangladesh, Philippines frequently appear in EM-DAT records
5. Increasing Cost of Disasters
- Global disaster-related economic losses have crossed hundreds of billions of dollars annually
- Urbanisation, coastal development, and infrastructure exposure amplify losses
India-Specific Insights (Based on EM-DAT Trends)
- Floods are the most frequent disaster
- Heatwaves are emerging as major killers
- Cyclones increasingly intense along eastern coast
- Recurrent disasters linked with:
- Climate variability
- High population density
- Informal settlements
- Weak urban resilience
Policy Relevance of EM-DAT
- Supports Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Helps governments:
- Identify disaster hotspots
- Prioritise mitigation investments
- Design early warning systems
- Used in climate adaptation planning, insurance risk modelling, and humanitarian response planning
Limitations of EM-DAT
- Under-reporting of small-scale or local disasters
- Data quality varies across regions and time periods
- Economic loss estimates often conservative or delayed
- Social and ecological impacts not fully captured
Conclusion
EM-DAT analysis clearly shows that disasters are becoming more frequent, more climate-driven, and more economically destructive. While mortality has declined in some regions due to better preparedness, climate change, urban vulnerability, and inequality continue to amplify disaster risks. EM-DAT remains a critical evidence base for disaster governance, climate policy, and sustainable development planning.
