People affected by disaster, Number in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: People affected by disaster, Number was 1.01 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.01 million
Change on year
up 249.0%
World rank
21st
of 183 countries
All-time high
3.01 million
in 2014
All-time low
0
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

People affected by disaster, Number in Sri Lanka, 1980–2024

01.0M2.0M3.0M1980200220241980: 01981: 20.0k1982: 2.1M1983: 1.2M1984: 575.0k1985: 8.0k1986: 64.5k1987: 2.2M1988: 806.0k1989: 501.0k1990: 440.0k1991: 297.2k1992: 656.0k1993: 330.1k1994: 728.1k1995: 120.0k1996: 10.0k1997: 5.0k1998: 364.5k1999: 375.0k2000: 775.0k2001: 1.0M2002: 500.0k2003: 695.0k2004: 200.0k2005: 145.0k2006: 333.0k2007: 406.0k2008: 826.9k2009: 380.0k2010: 770.3k2011: 1.3M2012: 2.3M2013: 81.3k2014: 3.0M2015: 27.3k2016: 1.2M2017: 1.1M2018: 303.7k2019: 754.7k2020: 152.8k2021: 330.8k2022: 178.2k2023: 288.8k2024: 1.0M

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

In 2024, people affected by disaster, number in Sri Lanka stood at 1.01 million.

That represents a change of up 249.0% on the previous year and down 66.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people affected by disaster, number in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.01 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.

That places Sri Lanka 21st out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

People affected by disaster, Number in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for People affected by disaster, Number (Not Applicable) in Sri Lanka, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 0 —
1981 20,000 —
1982 2.13 million +10550.0%
1983 1.25 million -41.3%
1984 575,000 -54.0%
1985 8,000 -98.6%
1986 64,485 +706.1%
1987 2.20 million +3311.6%
1988 806,000 -63.4%
1989 501,000 -37.8%
1990 440,000 -12.2%
1991 297,151 -32.5%
1992 655,950 +120.7%
1993 330,130 -49.7%
1994 728,150 +120.6%
1995 120,000 -83.5%
1996 10,000 -91.7%
1997 5,000 -50.0%
1998 364,485 +7189.7%
1999 375,000 +2.9%
2000 775,000 +106.7%
2001 1.00 million +29.1%
2002 500,000 -50.0%
2003 695,000 +39.0%
2004 200,000 -71.2%
2005 145,000 -27.5%
2006 333,002 +129.7%
2007 406,000 +21.9%
2008 826,905 +103.7%
2009 380,000 -54.0%
2010 770,265 +102.7%
2011 1.33 million +72.5%
2012 2.32 million +74.3%
2013 81,300 -96.5%
2014 3.01 million +3597.2%
2015 27,309 -99.1%
2016 1.20 million +4300.0%
2017 1.05 million -12.3%
2018 303,712 -71.2%
2019 754,665 +148.5%
2020 152,765 -79.8%
2021 330,777 +116.5%
2022 178,176 -46.1%
2023 288,848 +62.1%
2024 1.01 million +249.0%

Sri Lanka compared with similar countries

  • Sri Lanka's 1.01 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18,017, 56.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
  • Sri Lanka's 1.01 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 1.80 million, 56% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where People affected by disaster, Number in Sri Lanka 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.

YearChange FromTo
1982 +10550.0% 20,000 2.13 million
1998 +7189.7% 5,000 364,485
2016 +4300.0% 27,309 1.20 million
2014 +3597.2% 81,300 3.01 million
1987 +3311.6% 64,485 2.20 million
1986 +706.1% 8,000 64,485

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 755,448 0 2.20 million 10
1990s 332,587 5,000 728,150 10
2000s 526,107 145,000 1.00 million 10
2010s 1.08 million 27,309 3.01 million 10
2020s 391,725 152,765 1.01 million 5

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 18 Colombia 1.41 million compare
  2. 19 Myanmar 1.11 million compare
  3. 20 Costa Rica 1.10 million compare
  4. 22 Mongolia 964,435 compare
  5. 23 South Sudan 893,000 compare
  6. 24 Yemen 867,160 compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More climate change data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is people affected by disaster, number in Sri Lanka?
People affected by disaster, number in Sri Lanka was 1.01 million in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest people affected by disaster, number recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 3.01 million in 2014.
What is the lowest people affected by disaster, number recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
How does Sri Lanka rank for people affected by disaster, number?
Sri Lanka ranks 21st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
Is people affected by disaster, number rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 66.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of People affected by disaster, Number (Not Applicable). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People affected by disaster, Number in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 03 October 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/people-affected-by-disaster-number-not-applicable/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
People affected by disaster, Number (Not Applicable)
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
185 places, 4,260 data points, 1980–2025
Last refreshed

This dataset provides information on global climate and weather patterns, providing insights into temperature variations, land cover accounts, and shifts in mean sea levels.