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1997-1998 El Niño

The 1997-1998 El Niño resulted in the death of more than 21,000 people in 27 countries around the world, according to the World Meteorological Organization; in all, 117 million people were affected.

Morbidity affected some 540,000 people, while 4.9 million were displaced and made homeless.

Several economic estimates of the global loss during this El Niño have been made: these range from US$ 14 billion for structural losses, to more than US$ 34 billion, which included socio-economic impacts.

The form of the impact varied in different communities, with high material and structural losses incurred by developed economies, while loss of life dominated in less developed communities.