Facts + Statistics: U.S. catastrophes

2022 natural catastrophes

Aon defines a catastrophe as a natural event that causes any of the following:

$25 million or more in insured property losses
ten deaths
50 people injured
2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged.

Aon’s natural catastrophe estimates include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and include losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. They are subject to change as loss estimates are further developed.

Natural Catastrophe Losses In The United States By Peril, 2023 (1)

($ millions)

Peril	Number of events	Fatalities	Economic losses (2)	Insured losses (3)
Severe convective storm	53	137	$72,649	$57,624
Wildfire, drought, heatwave	5	257	20,073	10,413
Flooding	16	18	11,812	5,919
Winter storm	11	14	4,898	3,403
Tropical cyclone	4	4	4,693	2,290
Total	89	430	$114,125	$79,649

(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
(2) Includes any direct physical damage or direct net loss business interruption costs.
(3) Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2024.

~ =Approximately.

Source: Aon.

View Archived Tables

Natural Catastrophes By Quarter, 2023 (1)

(2023 $ millions)

Quarter	Estimated insured losses
1	$19,882
2	31,829
3	25,324
4	2,614
Full year	$79,649

(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2024.

Source: Aon.

View Archived Tables

Estimated Insured Property Losses, U.S. Natural Catastrophes, 2014-2023 (1)

($ billions)

Year	In dollars when occurred	In 2023 dollars (2)
2014	$23.4	$30.5
2015	23.0	29.9
2016	31.9	40.9
2017	131.0	163.9
2018	60.9	74.5
2019	39.2	47.2
2020	81.5	96.9
2021	93.3	106.0
2022	109.6	114.0
2023	78.8	79.6

(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2024. Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

View Archived Tables

Top 10 Costliest Natural Catastrophes, United States (1)

($ millions)

			Estimated insured property loss
Rank	Year	Peril	Dollars when occurred	In 2023 dollars (2)
1	2005	Hurricane Katrina	$65,000	$101,865
2	2022	Hurricane Ian	54,000	55,772
3	2021	Hurricane Ida	36,000	40,503
4	2012	Hurricane Sandy	30,000	39,918
5	2017	Hurricane Harvey	30,000	37,609
6	2017	Hurricane Irma	30,050	37,473
7	2017	Hurricane Maria	29,511	36,802
8	1992	Hurricane Andrew	16,000	34,951
9	1994	Northridge Earthquake	15,300	32,210
10	2008	Hurricane Ike	18,200	25,604

(1) Natural disasters that cause at least $25 million in insured losses; or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 2,000 filed claims or homes and structures damaged. Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2024.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

View Archived Tables