Cyclones, floods and wildfires among 2025's costliest climate-related disasters

"Cyclones and floods in south-east Asia this autumn killed more than 1,750 people and caused more than $25bn (19bn) in damage, while the death toll from California wildfires topped 400 people, with $60bn in damage, according to research on the costliest climate-related disasters of the year. China's devastating floods, in which thousands of people were displaced, were the third most expensive, causing about $12bn in damage, with at least 30 lives lost."

"The true losses are likely to be much higher, as only the insurance costs could be reliably measured. The human costs, in lives, displacement and lost livelihoods, are uncounted. Devastating events such as these are often grouped together as natural disasters, as if they were simply the consequences of normal weather variation. But this is a misperception, according to the report's authors."

"While the economic cost of disasters is often accounted as greater in developed countries, where people and businesses can afford insurance, the true toll in developing countries can be much higher. Mohamed Adow, director of the Power Shift Africa thinktank, said: While wealthy nations count the financial cost of disasters, millions of people across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean are counting lost lives, homes and futures."

Cyclones and floods in south-east Asia this autumn killed more than 1,750 people and caused over $25bn in damage. California wildfires killed over 400 people and caused about $60bn in damage. China's floods displaced thousands, caused about $12bn in damage and killed at least 30 people. The 10 worst climate-related disasters of 2025 generated more than $120bn in insured losses, while true losses remain higher because only insurance costs were reliably measured. Human costs in lives, displacement and lost livelihoods are uncounted. Damaging events are increasing in frequency and intensity due to the human-made climate crisis, driven by fossil fuel expansion and political delay. Developing countries suffer higher unrecorded tolls and require real frontline support.

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