Instituted in 1971, the Game's first full official year, the National Disaster awarded 10 points to any gamester who predicted a disaster which took 5,000 lives within a political boundary. After 1991, manmade disasters were no longer allowed, as they were too common and predictable. At the end of the 1998 season, the National Disaster was discontinued.

1972
Earthquake/Iran *
Dr. Death

1977
Earthquake/Turkey
J. Corrigan ("Mr. National Disaster"), N. Percia

1978
Floods/India
The National Health

War/Cambodia
R. Dunie

War/Rhodesia
B. Beasom, Kane, D. McCarthy

1979
War/Vietnam
B. Beasom ("The Master of Disaster")

War/Cambodia
The National Health

War/Nicaragua
Mullen's Revenge

War/Rhodesia
Captain Cadaver, e. mcgrath

1980
War/El Salvador
Pearl E. Gates

1981
Earthquake/Iran
Morpheus

1982
War/Lebanon
G. Reaper

1985
Cyclone/Bangladesh
Dr. Doux, OPEC

1990
Earthquake/Iran
D. Perriman Jr.

1991
War/Iraq **
Binky Brown, Ghostwriter, Harris Tweed, P. & E. Hepner, Legion of Doom, Lincoln's Brain, Mr. Goodvibes, Morituri te Salutamus, Satan's Little Helpers, L. Smith

Cyclone/Bangladesh
Blunt Instrument, Dr. Doux, Gamesters of Triskelion, e. mcgrath, A. Maislen, Silver Tapps, Those Madcap Borgias

Flood/Philippines
Danse Macabre, Winterkill

1995
Earthquake/Japan
Binky Brown, Coffin Counter, Deathsprit, Dr. Doux, Eternal Dirt Napper, Gratefully Dead, Hanuman, m.i. blue, Mouldering Playmate, Nanny's Dream Team, Of Corpse, Skul, L. Smith, U 2 Brutus

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* In typical style, Dr. Death scored on an earthquake that took 5035 lives, just 35 over the required minimum.

** War/Iraq prompted controversy. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, some gamesters asked if 'War/Kuwait' would qualify as a National Disaster in 1991. The official response was "no" because people had already died in Kuwait. However, a number of gamesters reasoned that since no one had died in Iraq, 'War/Iraq' would be a fresh pick, and that the Gulf War was destined to be fought in Iraq, not in Kuwait. They guessed correctly.

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