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Insured Losses Hit $120 Billion as Extreme Weather Spreads

  • Hurricane Ian was costliest event of 2022: Munich Re study
  • Before 2005, industry losses never topped $50 billion a year
A man takes photos of boats damaged by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida on September 29.

A man takes photos of boats damaged by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida on September 29.

Photographer: Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images
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The insurance industry is struggling to adapt to a new normal in which losses fueled by climate change are now regularly exceeding $100 billion a year.

Insured losses from natural disasters hit about $120 billion in 2022, most of which was weather related, according to data compiled by Munich Re. Hurricane Ian, which devastated Florida in September, was responsible for about half that. Including uninsured losses, the total cost of storms, droughts, earthquakes and fires last year was $270 billion.