Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Munich Re Says 2025 Disaster Losses Fell to $224 Billion, With $108 Billion Insured

The reinsurer says the lower tally reflects luck with U.S. hurricanes rather than reduced risk, with climate change intensifying costly extremes.

Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in Epuyen, in the Patagonian province of Chubut, Argentina January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Matias Garay/File Photo
An earthquake in Myanmar was among the costliest natural disasters in 2025, according to Munich Re
Damaged buildings in Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa
The Los Angeles wildfires were the costliest natural disasters of 2025, according to Munich Re

Overview

  • Floods, wildfires and severe storms accounted for $98 billion of insured losses, far above the 10-year average of $60 billion.
  • Los Angeles wildfires were the costliest event, causing about $53 billion in total losses, including roughly $40 billion insured.
  • A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar was the second most expensive disaster by overall losses at about $12 billion, with only a small share insured.
  • Munich Re describes a year with record first-half insured losses followed by the quietest second half in a decade, as the U.S. mainland saw no hurricane landfalls for the first time in 10 years.
  • The report records about 17,200 deaths worldwide and highlights large protection gaps, with Asia-Pacific suffering $73 billion in losses but only $9 billion insured as scientists link many events to a warming climate and the warmest decade on record.