In this brief, Rushil Vipulkumar Patel discusses current trends in disasters and their relationship to disaster fatalities. Patel presents that while the absolute number of natural disasters is increasing, the number of fatalities from natural disasters is decreasing. He then provides an analysis of the factors influencing these global disaster trends.
Patel also discusses how natural disasters now have a greater impact on populations and the built environment due to migration and urbanization. Finally, he points out the impact globalization has had on terrorism-related disasters.