Costs for climate disasters to reach $145 billion in 2025, says Swiss Re

ZURICH (Reuters) -Hurricanes, storms, floods and other natural disasters may cause $145 billion in insured losses in 2025, nearly 6% up from 2024 and one of the costliest years on record, reinsurance company Swiss Re said in a report on Tuesday.

The year's projected tally of losses from natural catastrophes covered by insurance compares with $137 billion recorded in 2024 and is well above long-term averages.

Swiss Re's report pointed to the wildfires in Los Angeles at the beginning of the year as a major contributor to the projected figure, causing estimated insured losses of $40 billion.

"Underlying risk is increasing continuously with economic and population growth as well as urban sprawl, including in areas vulnerable to natural catastrophes. In addition, climate change effects are playing a role in compounding losses for some weather perils and regions," Swiss Re said in its report.

Total losses from natural catastrophes, including those not covered by insurance, came in at $318 billion in 2024, the report said. That is up from $292 billion in 2023 and significantly above longer-term averages.

(Reporting by Paul Arnold, Writing by Friederike Heine; editing by Matthias Williams)