20 December 2017Insurance

Global 2017 insured cat losses at $136bn: Swiss Re

The global insured losses from catastrophes in 2017 are estimated at $136 billion, according to Swiss Re’s sigma report estimates, well above the annual average of the previous 10 years, and the third highest since sigma records began in 1970.

The $136 billion in 2017 compare to global insured losses from disaster events of $65 billion in 2016.

Natural catastrophes accounted for $131 billion of 2017's insured losses, and man-made disasters for the remaining $5 billion.

The US was hardest hit, including by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, which have made 2017 the second costliest hurricane season on sigma records after 2005.

"In recent years, annual insurance losses from disaster events have exceeded $100 billion a few times", said Martin Bertogg, head of catastrophe perils at Swiss Re. "The insurance industry has demonstrated that it can cope very well with such high losses. However, significant protection gaps remain and if the industry is able to extend its reach, many more people and businesses can become better equipped to withstand the fallout from disaster events."

Global economic losses from natural and man-made disasters in 2017 are estimated to be $306 billion, up from $188 billion in 2016.

The accumulation of economic and insured losses ramped up in the second half of the year, due primarily to the three hurricanes – Harvey, Irma and Maria – that hit the US and the Caribbean, and wildfires in California. Globally, more than 11 000 people have died or gone missing in disaster events in 2017, similar to 2016.

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More on this story

Insurance
23 February 2018   Swiss Re has posted a loss in property/casualty reinsurance and corporate solutions, with life & health helping to prevent a group loss in 2017.
Insurance
4 January 2018   The re/insurance industry will bear record catastrophe losses of $135 billion in 2017 following hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as a severe earthquake in Mexico, according to Munich Re’s calculations.
Insurance
19 December 2017   Rating agency AM Best is holding its 2018 outlook for the global reinsurance sector at negative, citing the considerable uncertainty surrounding the level and sustainability of any market improvement.