Global Insured Catastrophe Loss Benchmark Rose to $171B
Verisk reported a $19 billion increase in annual global catastrophe loss benchmarks compared to last year.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Severe Weather
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Verisk has updated its average annual global insured catastrophe loss benchmark to $171 billion. This figure marks a $19 billion increase from the previous year, with losses having now exceeded $100 billion for six consecutive years.
Why it matters
The rising benchmark reflects persistent growth in global property values and insured values. Losses are increasingly driven by frequency perils, such as wildfires and severe thunderstorms, rather than individual extreme events.
The global insured loss benchmark is $171 billion, reflecting a $19 billion increase over the previous year. Modeled aggregate insured losses are projected to reach $477 billion at a 100-year return period and $606 billion at a 250-year return period.
The players
Verisk
Verisk is a data analytics and risk assessment firm that provides predictive modeling for the global insurance industry.
The details
The model calculates risk based on exposure data, population shifts into high-risk zones, and rising reconstruction costs. The United States accounts for 68% of total modeled insured catastrophe risk, with severe thunderstorms contributing 40% of that total.
Timeline
2012: Verisk began publishing its benchmark report.
2021: Annual property exposure and reconstruction cost growth began.
2022-2024: One-in-nine new English homes were built in flood-risk areas.
2025: The United States experienced no hurricane landfalls.
2050: The proportion of new homes built in English flood-risk areas could reach one-in-seven.
Seasonal Patterns
This report updates the baseline established by the 2012 launch of the Verisk benchmark report to reflect current global property risks. Since that initial report, the average annual loss has risen from $59 billion to the current $171 billion.
Property owners should account for the 5% annual increase in residential reconstruction costs when calculating insurance coverage limits. Monitoring local flood-risk designations remains essential as new housing development in vulnerable zones continues to outpace long-term mitigation efforts.
The takeaway
The sustained increase in catastrophe losses highlights the financial impact of shifting property values and high-frequency weather events. Understanding these benchmarks can help stakeholders better prepare for the long-term financial consequences of a changing risk landscape.
Further reading
For additional context on climate risks and modeling, visit the Severe Weather section.
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