1877 El Niño Caused Famine Across Three Continents

Why this is here: The 1877 El Niño caused simultaneous droughts in Asia, Africa, and South America, preventing any one region from serving as a food reserve for others.

Between 1876 and 1879, a powerful El Niño event triggered prolonged droughts across Asia, Africa, and parts of Australia and South America. The event created a synchronized global food crisis, resulting in roughly 30 to 60 million deaths in under four years. Climate reconstructions using coral and tree ring data indicate the 1877-1878 El Niño matched the intensity of the 1997/98 and 2015/16 events.

However, in 1877, the world lacked early warning systems or organized international aid. Governments reacted slowly, sometimes with policies that worsened conditions.

India experienced widespread famine after failing monsoon seasons in 1876 and 1877, causing an estimated 6 to 11 million deaths. Northern China suffered a three-year drought from 1876 to 1879, leading to the Great Northern China Famine and around 9.5 to 10 million deaths.

Northeast Brazil’s semi-arid Sertão region experienced severe drought starting in 1877, with approximately 500,000 deaths from starvation and disease. The study of past ENSO events continues, aiming to better understand and prepare for future climate disruptions.