Losses From Natural Disasters Decline In 2009

In 2009, some 860 natural catastrophes occurred worldwide.¹ Given the 750 disasters registered in 2008, this represented an increase of 15 percent.² Last year had the fourth highest number of events in the period from 1980 to 2009.³ Some 92 percent of last year’s events were weather-related disasters (compared with 82 percent in 2008): 42 percent were storms, 38 percent were floods, and 12 percent were other weather-related events, such as heat and cold waves, winter damage, droughts, and wildfires. The other 8 percent of total catastrophes in 2009 were geophysical events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, or subsidence.⁴ This percentage distribution is in line with the long-term averages for these categories.⁵ (See Figure 1.) In 2009, overall economic losses from natural disasters totaled about $50 billion—the lowest since 2001—with insured losses at about $22 billion.⁶ (See Figure 2.) Some 88 percent of the total losses and 98 percent of the insured ones were weather-related.⁷ Only in the early 1980s and in the years 2000 and 2001 have overall losses been this low, when adjusted for inflation.⁸ The natural catastrophe figures for 2009 were marked by losses due to severe weather in areas with a high prevalence of insurance.⁹

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