The average annual loss of infrastructure including buildings caused by disasters in Africa is $12.7 billion, according to the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Of the damage 70% is caused by floods followed by earthquakes at about 28%, which are less frequent but more catastrophic, the group said in a report on Monday. The CDRI consists of United Nations agencies, development banks, private companies and academic institutions.
“Climate change is expected to increase the impact of disasters on infrastructure by as much as 27%, resulting in average annual loss of $2.4 billion,” the report said, without giving a date. “Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate-related disasters.”
At a regional level, the worst devastation is in eastern Africa at $5.5 billion, followed by northern Africa at $2.3 billion. The continent’s south suffers damage of approximately $2.3 billion, while $1.58 billion is lost in the west. At a country level, the nations with the worst destruction are South Africa at $1.7 billion, Nigeria with $1.1 billion and Algeria at $1 billion.
Smaller nations with sparser infrastructure have fewer losses, although the damage is relatively more significant to their economies. Average annual loss represents 1.5% of Lesotho’s gross domestic product, 1.25% for Mauritius and 1% for Comoros.
Photo: Flooded roads in Gqeberha, South Africa, on June 10, 2025. Photo credit: Lulama Zenzile/Gallo Images/Getty Images
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