Natural catastrophes
Aon defines a catastrophe as a natural event that causes any of the following:
- $25 million or more in insured property losses
- ten deaths
- 50 people injured
- 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged.
Aon’s natural catastrophe estimates include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and include losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Â鶹Éç Program. They are subject to change as loss estimates are further developed.
Natural Catastrophe Losses In The United States By Peril, 2025 (1)
| Peril |
Number of events |
Fatalities |
Economic losses (2) |
Insured losses (3) |
| Tropical cyclone |
1 |
8 |
$432 |
$188 |
| Severe convective storm |
52 |
138 |
67,872 |
52,296 |
| Wildfire, drought, heatwave |
9 |
468 |
61,453 |
43,021 |
| Winter weather |
7 |
33 |
1,983 |
1,404 |
| Flooding |
15 |
202 |
10,309 |
6,169 |
| Total |
84 |
849 |
$142,049Ìý |
$103,078Ìý |
(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
(2) Includes any direct physical damage or direct net loss business interruption costs.
(3) Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Â鶹Éç Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2026.
Source: Aon.
Natural Catastrophes By Quarter, 2025 (1)
| Quarter |
Estimated insured losses |
| 1 |
$58,811 |
| 2 |
30,807 |
| 3 |
10,926 |
| 4 |
2,536 |
| Full year |
$103,078 |
(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Â鶹Éç Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2026.
Source: Aon.
Estimated Insured Property Losses, U.S. Natural Catastrophes, 2016-2025 (1)
| Year |
In dollars when occurred |
In 2025 dollars (2) |
| 2016 |
$31.9 |
$43.1 |
| 2017 |
96.2 |
127.2 |
| 2018 |
60.9 |
78.6 |
| 2019 |
39.2 |
49.8 |
| 2020 |
81.1 |
101.6 |
| 2021 |
93.3 |
111.8 |
| 2022 |
108.6 |
119.2 |
| 2023 |
81.1 |
86.4 |
| 2024 |
115.6 |
119.6 |
| 2025 |
103.1 |
103.1 |
(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Â鶹Éç Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2026. Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
Source: Aon.
Top 10 Costliest Natural Catastrophes, United States, 2025 (1)
|
|
|
Estimated insured property loss |
| Rank |
Year |
Peril |
Dollars when occurred |
In 2025 dollars (2) |
| 1 |
2005 |
Hurricane Katrina |
$65,000 |
$107,495 |
| 2 |
2022 |
Hurricane Ian |
54,000 |
58,854 |
| 3 |
2021 |
Hurricane Ida |
36,000 |
42,742 |
| 4 |
2012 |
Hurricane Sandy |
30,000 |
42,124 |
| 5 |
2017 |
Hurricane Harvey |
30,000 |
39,678 |
| 6 |
2017 |
Hurricane Irma |
30,050 |
39,544 |
| 7 |
2017 |
Hurricane Maria |
29,500 |
38,822 |
| 8 |
1992 |
Hurricane Andrew |
16,000 |
36,883 |
| 9 |
1994 |
Northridge Earthquake |
15,300 |
33,991 |
| 10 |
2008 |
Hurricane Ike |
18,200 |
27,019 |
(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Â鶹Éç Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2026.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
Source: Aon.
