BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Following several turbulent years marked by heavy losses, nature proved comparatively peaceful in Germany last year: natural disaster claims fell sharply in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the German Insurance Association (GDV) in Berlin. Nationwide, storms, hail, and other adverse weather events resulted in 1.4 billion euros in property insurance losses, down three billion euros from the prior year. The primary driver: 2025 saw no large-scale flooding.
More than two-thirds of the losses - one billion euros - were caused by storms and hail last year. Flooding, torrential rain, and other so-called 'natural hazards' not covered by standard building insurance accounted for 400 million euros - compared to 2.6 billion euros the previous year due to major flooding in southern Germany. However, these figures only include insured losses. Since over 40 percent of residential buildings nationwide are not insured against flooding and other natural hazards, the total economic losses are higher.
In terms of long-term trends, global losses caused by natural disasters have been rising for several decades, driven in part by increasing temperatures. As warmer air can hold more moisture, the propensity for severe weather grows, leading to more frequent and intense thunderstorms. However, this is not a linear progression. 'Losses fluctuate significantly from year to year, which is why quieter years must not be interpreted as a trend,' said GDV Managing Director Jörg Asmussen./cho/DP/zb
