A new report from charity Christian Aid shows 2025 brought some of the most expensive climate disasters on record. The 10 costliest events caused $120 billion in insured losses across four continents.
The analysis used data from insurance company Aon to track wildfires, cyclones, floods, and droughts throughout the year. Researchers warn the true costs are much higher because many losses cannot be measured, including destroyed livelihoods, lost income, and permanent displacement of communities.
The January Los Angeles wildfires topped the list with over $60 billion in damages. Officials recorded 31 direct deaths, but an August study found 400 more people died from fire-related factors like poor air quality and delayed healthcare access. Scientists confirmed climate change fueled the fires.
Late November floods in South and Southeast Asia killed more than 1,800 people and caused $25 billion in damages. Two tropical cyclones struck Indonesia’s Sumatra region and Malaysia at the same time, triggering the deadly flooding. The disaster hit one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
China’s floods ranked third with $12 billion in damages and at least 30 deaths. Thousands of people lost their homes. Other major events included floods in India, Pakistan, and Texas, plus four tropical cyclones.
World’s 10 Costliest Disasters
| Disaster | Location | Deaths | Cost (Billions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palisades and Eaton Fires | California, USA | 400+ | $60 |
| Cyclones and Floods | Southeast Asia | 1,750+ | $25 |
| Flooding | China | 30+ | $11.7 |
| Hurricane Melissa | Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas | Not finalized | $8 |
| Monsoon Floods | India and Pakistan | 1,860+ | $5.6 |
| Typhoons | Philippines | Hundreds | $5+ |
| Drought | Brazil | Not specified | $4.75 |
| Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred | Australia | 1 | $1.2 |
| Cyclone Garance | Rรฉunion, East Africa | 5 | $1.05 |
| Flash Flooding | Texas, USA | Not specified | $1+ |
Hurricane Melissa caused over $8 billion in Caribbean losses. It became the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record and the strongest ever recorded at landfall in the Atlantic basin.
The Philippines suffered multiple typhoons that displaced 1.4 million people and caused $5 billion in damages. Drought in Iran now threatens to force 10 million Tehran residents to evacuate. Floods killed 700 people in Democratic Republic of Congo in April and another 700 in Nigeria the following month.
Scientists say human-caused greenhouse gas emissions have increased both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The past 10 years mark the hottest decade on record. 2024 was the warmest year measured, with 2025 expected to rank second or third.
The report counted only events with reliable insurance data, meaning many smaller disasters went unrecorded.
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