Global insured losses from natural catastrophes totaled U.S. $42 billion during the first half of 2026 [1].
This decline in insured payouts suggests a relatively benign start to the year for the insurance industry, reducing the immediate financial pressure on global carriers.
According to the Swiss Re Institute, the losses recorded in the first half of the year represent the lowest first-half total since 2020 [1]. The institute said these figures are 16% below the 10-year average [2].
While the insured portion of these losses remained low, the broader economic impact was more severe. Total economic losses from natural disasters in the first half of 2026 reached U.S. $100 billion [4]. This gap between economic losses and insured losses highlights a continuing trend in underinsurance across various global regions.
Insurance companies typically track these figures to adjust premiums and manage risk capital. The current dip below the decade average provides a temporary reprieve for the sector, though catastrophe risks remain a permanent fixture of the global economy.
The Swiss Re Institute provided the estimates for the insured losses [1]. The data indicates that while the frequency or severity of insured events may have dipped in early 2026, the overall cost of natural disasters to the global economy remains high [4].
“Global insured losses from natural catastrophes totaled US $42 billion during the first half of 2026”
The disparity between the $42 billion in insured losses and the $100 billion in total economic losses indicates a significant protection gap. This suggests that a large portion of the damage caused by natural disasters in early 2026 was not covered by insurance, leaving governments and individuals to absorb the remaining $58 billion in costs.
