In 2024, the United States accounted for 78% of global insured losses, with natural events being the main contributors. The ten most significant economic loss events worldwide that year include hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and droughts, affecting regions such as the United States, Mexico, Japan, Spain, China, Southeast Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Among natural disasters, heatwaves and floods were the leading causes of the 18,100 deaths worldwide, a number that remained below the 21st-century average. This decline in fatalities is attributed to improved alert systems, weather forecasts, and evacuation planning, underscoring the importance of having accurate data and reliable climate analysis.
Regarding global insurance losses in 2024, these exceeded the 21st-century average by 54%, reaching $145 billion out of $368 billion in damages recorded that year. Despite this increase, there remains a 60% protection gap, representing a significant financial challenge for communities, businesses, and governments.
One of the most costly events was Hurricane Helene, which struck the United States in September, causing $75 billion in damages and 243 deaths. It was followed by Hurricane Milton, which in October caused insured losses of $20 billion. In 2024, natural disasters generated economic losses totaling $368 billion, according to AON's report "Climate and Catastrophe Insight 2025," a leading professional services firm.
This analysis also highlights that extreme weather phenomena are becoming increasingly frequent and costly, emphasizing the importance of continuing to invest in prevention, preparedness, and risk mitigation to address the challenges posed by climate change.
