Verisk raises annual catastrophe loss estimate to 171 billion dollars

Verisk Analytics published its annual catastrophe loss report on 1 September 2026, raising its estimate of yearly insured disaster losses to $171 billion. This is $19 billion more than last year's figure and the highest number since Verisk started the report in 2012. Back then, the estimate was $59 billion, so it has nearly tripled. The report also shows that a very bad year, one that happens roughly once every 100 years, could produce losses of $477 billion. The United States carries 68 percent of the world's insured catastrophe risk. Verisk says the rising numbers reflect higher property values, more building in risky areas, and better modelling that now covers more than 20 additional countries.