Climate Displacement Soars Globally, US Tops the List in 2024

As of November 8th, 2025, the global climate crisis has continued to displace millions of people worldwide, with the United States topping the list in 2024. According to the latest report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), there were an estimated 46 million displacements due to natural disasters in 2024 alone, a staggering increase from 17.2 million in 2018.

The US recorded its highest level of disaster displacement in 2024, with 11 million people forced to flee their homes, nearly a quarter of the global total. This was primarily driven by the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton, which triggered almost 6 million displacements in October 2024. Other heavily affected countries include Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, and Somalia, which have consistently topped the list of nations with the most internally displaced people in recent years.

The climate crisis is amplifying pre-existing vulnerabilities, intensifying the impacts of poverty, threatening basic infrastructure, and undermining the idea of a safe life or livelihood for many. Experts warn that this is a global phenomenon that affects everyone, everywhere, with even wealthy European countries like Spain, France, and Germany seeing a rise in displacements due to floods, storms, and wildfires.

The situation is particularly dire for small island nations like Tuvalu, which face an existential threat from rising sea levels. In recognition of this, Australia and New Zealand have introduced special visa programs to facilitate the migration of Tuvaluans and other Pacific Islanders. However, these efforts may only provide temporary relief, as the long-term solution requires a comprehensive global response to address the root causes of the climate crisis.