The 1983 drought in Ethiopia resulted in a loss of approximately 300,000 lives and is tied with storm Bhola in Bangladesh as the deadliest climate disaster since 1970. Four of the ten largest weather, climate, and water related disasters by mortality between 1970 and 2019 were related to droughts.
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World Meteorological Organization. (July 26, 2021). Leading weather, climate, and water related disasters between 1970 and 2019, by mortality (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 21, 2026, from /statistics/1267256/biggest-climate-disasters-by-deaths/
World Meteorological Organization. "Leading weather, climate, and water related disasters between 1970 and 2019, by mortality (in 1,000s)." Chart. July 26, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 21, 2026. /statistics/1267256/biggest-climate-disasters-by-deaths/
World Meteorological Organization. (2021). Leading weather, climate, and water related disasters between 1970 and 2019, by mortality (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 21, 2026. /statistics/1267256/biggest-climate-disasters-by-deaths/
World Meteorological Organization. "Leading Weather, Climate, and Water Related Disasters between 1970 and 2019, by Mortality (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 26 Jul 2021, /statistics/1267256/biggest-climate-disasters-by-deaths/
World Meteorological Organization, Leading weather, climate, and water related disasters between 1970 and 2019, by mortality (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1267256/biggest-climate-disasters-by-deaths/ (last visited July 21, 2026)
Leading weather, climate, and water related disasters between 1970 and 2019, by mortality (in 1,000s) [Graph], World Meteorological Organization, July 26, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1267256/biggest-climate-disasters-by-deaths/
