Extreme weather takes toll on 13 mln people, killing 3,000 in Africa

The human and economic toll of climate change has been laid bare in a new report. Extreme weather and climate-related events affected at least 13 million people and led to over 3,000 deaths across Africa in 2025, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has revealed.

Unveiled on Thursday, the "State of the Climate in Africa 2025" report said extreme weather events have affected all sectors of the economy and society across the continent, resulting in rising flood and sea levels and vanishing glaciers, including on iconic Mount Kilimanjaro.

The continent is warming faster than the global average, the report found. Africa's glaciers have lost more than 90% of their area since the late 19th century. On Mount Kilimanjaro, the glacier area has declined from 11.4 square kilometers in 1900 to less than one square kilometer in recent years.

Sea levels along African coasts rose from 1999 to 2025, exceeding the global average of 3.6 mm per year in several regions. Floods accounted for more than half of reported events, including severe flooding in Nigeria that killed over 200 people last May, and flooding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that killed over 160 people last April, according to the report.

Only 40% of African countries have multi-hazard early warning systems, the report said, noting a critical gap in systems needed to save lives and livelihoods.

However, the report also pointed to encouraging collaborations between meteorological services, disaster management agencies and local authorities to advance climate services and response capabilities.

"The signs of a changing climate are clear across Africa, from increasing temperatures and rising sea levels to damaging floods and drought. This report shows not only the scale of the risks, but also the growing importance of early warnings, climate services and coordinated action to protect lives and livelihoods," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.