Global insured losses from natural disasters totaled approximately $108 billion in 2025, according to a recent report from Munich Re. While this marks the second year in a row for insured disaster losses over $100 billion, it shows a significant decrease from the $147 billion in insured losses recorded in 2024.
Overall global disaster losses and economic impacts were around $224 billion in 2025 — down from $368 billion in 2024. The five-year (2020 to 2024) adjusted average for all global disaster losses was $302 billion, while the average annual insured loss during this period was $125 billion.
Munich Re reports the costliest natural disasters of 2025 included:
- *The Palisades and Eaton fires in California caused $53 billion in overall losses, and $40 billion in insured losses.
- An earthquake on March 28, 2025, caused $12 billion in overall losses and $1.5 billion in insured losses across Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
- Hurricane Melissa caused $9.8 billion in total losses and $3 billion in insured losses across Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Haiti and Puerto Rico.
- A severe storm system that battered the United States from March 14-17, 2025, caused $9.4 billion in overall losses and $7 billion in insured losses.
- A flood in China in July 2025 caused $5.8 billion in overall losses and $500 million in insured losses.
Weather-related events were responsible for 97% of the insured disaster losses in 2025, with the biggest drivers being wildfires, floods and severe storms. Combined, these perils caused around $166 billion in overall losses last year, with an estimated $98 billion of that insured.
(Photo credit: boscorelli/Adobe Stock)
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