Global Disaster Resilience Study Findings Published
A study of 140 countries reveals significant disparities in disaster warning systems and household preparedness.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Safety
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Lloyd's Register Foundation has released a global report identifying that 1.1 billion people faced a disaster over the past five years. The study highlights that 220 million of those individuals received no warning, exposing major gaps in international emergency readiness.
Why it matters
The findings underscore a deepening divide in safety, where adults in low-income nations are nearly twice as likely to be affected by disasters as those in high-income countries. Additionally, the data indicates that warning receipt and the ability to act on those alerts remain critical challenges globally.
Researchers conducted 143,000 interviews across 140 countries to assess disaster outcomes. The data shows that while 77 percent of disaster-affected EU residents received a warning, only 29 percent of households across the region maintain a disaster plan.
The players
Lloyd's Register Foundation
This global charity supports research and innovation to make the world a safer place by reducing the harm caused by disasters.
Gallup
This analytics and advisory company conducted the 143,000 interviews that provided the foundation for this global study.
The details
The analysis measured social resilience by comparing the receipt of disaster warnings against the ability of individuals to act upon them. France, Greece, the Netherlands, and Estonia all recorded notable decreases in these resilience measures, with France's social resilience score dropping by six points since 2021.
Timeline
France's social resilience level served as a baseline in 2021.
Data collection for the study occurred throughout 2025.
The foundation published the findings on October 13, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
The study provides a comparative framework that measures how disaster warning efficacy varies significantly across different national income levels. This report serves as the primary source for identifying global trends in how different populations experience and respond to emergency events.
Residents should review the disaster warning protocols specific to their national and local jurisdictions to ensure they receive alerts. Establishing a household disaster plan is essential, as the data shows that less than a third of households in many regions are currently prepared for a crisis.
The takeaway
Disaster preparedness requires both the receipt of timely warnings and the proactive development of household plans. Readers should evaluate their own emergency readiness to ensure they can act effectively when alerts are issued.
Further reading
Learn more about emergency readiness in the Safety section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EU Observer.
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