Facts + Statistics: U.S. catastrophes

2021 natural catastrophes

Aon defines a catastrophe as a natural event that causes $25 million or more in insured property losses, or 10 deaths; or 50 people injured; or 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, 2021

($ millions)

Peril	Number of events	Fatalities	Economic losses (2)	Insured losses (3)
Severe convective storm	64	165	$37,250	$26,740
Wildfire, drought, heatwave	14	229	20,360	8,690
Flooding	12	33	7,020	2,850
Winter storm	4	230	24,790	15,520
Tropical cyclone	3	113	79,530	38,210
Total	97	~770	$169,000	$92,000

(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 February 1, 2022.

~ =Approximately.

Source: Aon.

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Natural Catastrophes By Quarter, 2021 (1)

(2021 $ millions)

Quarter	Estimated insured losses
1	$20,261
2	15,041
3	46,816
4	9,891
Full year	$92,009

(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 February 1, 2022.

Source: Aon.

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Estimated Insured Property Losses, U.S. Natural Catastrophes, 2012-2021 (1)

($ billions)

Year	In dollars when occurred	In 2021 dollars (2)
2012	$63.5	$74.9
2013	24.1	28.1
2014	23.2	26.5
2015	22.9	26.2
2016	31.6	35.7
2017	130.9	144.2
2018	60.4	65.0
2019	38.7	41.0
2020	81.0	84.7
2021	92.0	92.0

(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 February 1, 2022. Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

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Top 10 Costliest Natural Catastrophes, United States (1)

($ millions)

			Estimated insured property loss
Rank	Year	Peril	Dollars when occurred	In 2021 dollars (2)
1	2005	Hurricane Katrina	$65,000	$89,680
2	2021	Hurricane Ida	$36,000	$36,000
3	2012	Hurricane Sandy	30,000	35,140
4	2017	Hurricane Harvey	30,000	33,110
5	2017	Hurricane Irma	30,100	33,000
6	2017	Hurricane Maria	29,500	32,400
7	1992	Hurricane Andrew	16,000	30,770
8	1994	Northridge Earthquake	15,300	28,360
9	2008	Hurricane Ike	18,200	22,540
10	2012	Drought loss	14,400	17,210

(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 February 1, 2022.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

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