Trends and Epidemiological Profile of Climate-Related Disasters in Spain between 1950 and 2024

Climate-related disasters are the result of meteorological, hydrological, and climatological hazards. The increasing frequency of such disasters is closely linked to anthropogenic climate change, alongside other factors such as changes in land use and population exposure. The objective of the present study was to analyze the epidemiological profile of climate-related disasters in Spain and their temporal trends.

A retrospective descriptive study of climate-related disasters in Spain was performed for the period between January 1950 and December 2024. Data were compiled from various international and national sources to ensure comprehensive coverage of events. Both absolute and relative frequencies were analyzed, and mean mortality, injury, and affected person rates per million inhabitants were calculated for each disaster type. Temporal trends were assessed through the Mann-Kendall test, while differences in total mean rates across disaster categories were evaluated using the ANOVA test.

A total of 224 climate-related disasters were documented. Statistically significant increasing trends were identified in the total absolute frequency of disasters (tau = 0.558; p < 0.001), the mean mortality rate (tau = 0.239; p < 0.001), the mean injury rate (tau = 0.144; p = p < 0.001), and the mean rate of affected individuals (tau = 0.481; p = p < 0.001). The mean mortality rate exhibited statistically significant differences according to the type of disaster (F = 4.40; p = 0.013).

From 1950 to 2024, a statistically significant increasing trend was observed in the number of climate-related disasters and their associated human toll. Data recorded through December 2024 indicate that this upward trajectory continues, particularly regarding mortality and affected individuals.