Verisk raises global insured catastrophe-loss benchmark to $171 billion
Verisk’s 2026 modeled report places average annual global insured catastrophe losses at $171 billion, $19 billion above its prior benchmark. It is a planning measure, not a forecast for any single year.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
How the effects could reach youConditional effects
Event date: Verisk’s 2026 Global Modeled Catastrophe Losses Report established the revised benchmark in 2026. [2][3]
What happened
Verisk raised its estimate of average annual global insured catastrophe losses to $171 billion, an increase of about $19 billion from the previous year’s benchmark. [1][2][3]
References for this detail (3)
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Now Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Findsintelligencer.ca · Article published: Sep 1, 2026, 7:34 AM UTC
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Saysclaimsjournal.com · Article published: Sep 2, 2026, 5:00 AM UTC
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually: Veriskinsurancejournal.com · Article published: Sep 1, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC
The benchmark rose despite the United States having no hurricane landfalls in 2025 for the first time in a decade, according to Verisk’s account. [2][3]
References for this detail (2)
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Saysclaimsjournal.com · Article published: Sep 2, 2026, 5:00 AM UTC
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually: Veriskinsurancejournal.com · Article published: Sep 1, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC
Verisk attributes the increase to growth in property and insured values, alongside continued development in areas exposed to catastrophes and higher reconstruction costs. [1][2][3]
References for this detail (3)
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Now Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Findsintelligencer.ca · Article published: Sep 1, 2026, 7:34 AM UTC
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Saysclaimsjournal.com · Article published: Sep 2, 2026, 5:00 AM UTC
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually: Veriskinsurancejournal.com · Article published: Sep 1, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC
Severe convective storms make up 40% of modeled insured catastrophe risk. Tropical cyclones account for 27%, followed by earthquakes at 10%, winter storms at 9%, floods at 7% and wildfires at 6%. [2][3]
References for this detail (2)
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Saysclaimsjournal.com · Article published: Sep 2, 2026, 5:00 AM UTC
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually: Veriskinsurancejournal.com · Article published: Sep 1, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC
The report covers more than 120 countries and regions and uses the catastrophe models and software Verisk provides to insurance and reinsurance clients. [2][3]
References for this detail (2)
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Saysclaimsjournal.com · Article published: Sep 2, 2026, 5:00 AM UTC
- Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually: Veriskinsurancejournal.com · Article published: Sep 1, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC
Context from the sources
Verisk says frequency-driven perils, rather than one major hurricane, continued to drive insured losses in 2025. [2][3]
What happened before, and what is different now
A documented earlier episode helps explain a possible mechanism. Its outcome does not predict this event.
The earlier episode
Verisk’s benchmark was $59 billion when the series began in 2012, expressed in 2012 dollars. [2][3]
What is different
The 2026 benchmark is $171 billion and is nearly three times the 2012 figure; the earlier amount used 2012 dollars.
What to watch here
The comparison shows a substantial long-term increase in modeled exposure, but it does not predict losses in any particular year.
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
3 source links · 3 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [1] Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Now Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Findsintelligencer.caReferenced for: detail 1, detail 3
- [3] Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Expected to Average $171 Billion Annually: Veriskinsurancejournal.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 3, detail 4, detail 5
- [2] Global Insured Catastrophe Losses to Average $171 Billion Annually, Verisk Saysclaimsjournal.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 3, detail 4, detail 5
Questions answered by the reporting
What this could mean for you
Insurance availability or premiums could face pressure in areas with growing insured exposure.
Higher modeled annual losses and reconstruction costs can affect insurers’ risk assessment and capacity.
Reported basis: [1][2][3] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: Insurers act on the benchmark by changing pricing, coverage or reinsurance arrangements.
Possible time frame: months, if those conditions hold.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
Choose a country to check how this event could affect you.
What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
Modeled exposure and property values continue increasing in catastrophe-prone areas.
Reconstruction costs continue rising.
Pressure eases if…
Lower growth in exposed property values would reduce one factor identified by Verisk.
Reduced frequency or severity of the perils included in the models would ease realized losses.
Still unclear
The sources do not identify how the benchmark is distributed among individual countries or insurers.
The benchmark does not establish actual insured losses for any specific year.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (3)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
Average annual insured catastrophe losses increased by approximately $19 billion in a year, the highest estimate Verisk has reported to date Despite a season with…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
The insurance industry should be prepared to withstand $171 billion in insured catastrophe losses, on average in a given year, up $19 billion from a…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
The insurance industry should be prepared to withstand $171 billion in insured catastrophe losses, on average in a given year, up $19 billion from a…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
First tracked by DoomRadar: . AI-assisted analysis · . Based on linked headlines and available excerpts. Methodology · Report an error.