Natural disasters worldwide cost 116 billion euros in the first half of 2025

The bill is steep and demonstrates the extent of the damage. Natural disasters, exacerbated by human-caused global warming, have caused economic losses of $135 billion (€116 billion) worldwide in the first half of 2025, according to an initial estimate by Swiss Re published this Wednesday, August 6. The six-month losses are 36% higher than the ten-year average. By comparison, over the same period in 2024, losses stood at $123 billion, the Swiss group, which acts as an insurer for insurers, pointed out.

The Los Angeles fires alone accounted for $40 billion in covered losses . The Swiss reinsurance giant cited losses of "exceptional severity," as the fires occurred in a densely populated part of the United States with a concentration of high-value assets.

Swiss Re also points out that insurers' bills for fires have increased sharply over the past ten years. Before 2015, fires accounted for only about 1% of insured losses. But between " rising temperatures , more frequent droughts and changes in rainfall patterns," combined with urban expansion, they now represent 7% of insured losses.

Severe storms in the United States also added $31 billion to the bill. This amount is not as high as in 2023 and 2024, and below the trend of around $35 billion, Swiss Re said. However, these weather events, which are accompanied by hail and tornadoes, are a growing source of losses for insurance companies.

The first half of the year was also marked by an earthquake in Burma in March , which was felt as far away as Thailand, India and China. In Thailand alone, insured losses reached $1.5 billion.

Taking into account what Swiss Re calls human-caused losses, such as industrial accidents, losses rose to $87 billion in the first half of 2025, compared to $69 billion in the first half of 2024.

The second half of the year is usually more expensive for insurers due to damage during the North Atlantic hurricane season. But if costs continue to climb at the same rate as in the first half, the amount of damage covered by insurers could exceed its projections, which currently stand at $150 billion.