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Top 10 Costliest World Earthquakes And Tsunamis By Insured Losses, 1980-2020 (1)
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(US$ millions)

      Losses  
        Insured losses  
Rank Date Location Overall When occurred In 2020 dollars Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, lbaraki, lwate,
Miyagi, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata. Includes tsunami.		 $210,000 $40,000 $46,378 15,880
2 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 24,000 16,500 19,318 185
3 Jan. 17, 1994 USA (CA): Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley,
Ventura, Orange		 44,000 15,300 27,115 61
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Concepcion, Metropolitana, Rancagua, Talca,
Temuco, Valparaiso. Includes tsunami.		 30,000 8,000 9,564 520
5 Sep. 4, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside,
Omihi, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton		 10,000 7,400 8,778 0
6 Apr. 14-16, 2016 Japan: Kumamoto, Aso, Chuo Ward, Mashiki, Minamiaso,
Oita, Miyazaki, Fukuoka, Yamaguchi		 32,000 6,500 7,039 205
7 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 5,172 6,430
8 Nov. 13, 2016 New Zealand: Canterbury, Kaikoura, Waiau,
Wellington, Marlborough, Picton		 3,900 2,100 2,254 2
9 Jun. 13, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 2,700 2,100 2,411 1
10 Sep. 19, 2017 Mexico: Puebla, Morelos, Greater Mexico City 6,000 2,000 2,100 369

(1) Data through 2020 as of March 2021. Ranked on insured losses when occurred. Updated by the Insurance Information Institute using data from Munich Re's Relevant geophysical events worldwide 1980-2018.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.

Source: © 2021 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research; Wikipedia.

 

Archived Tables

THE TEN COSTLIEST WORLD EARTHQUAKES BY INSURED LOSSES, 1980-2010 (1)
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($ millions)

      Losses when occurred   
Rank Date Location Overall Insured Fatalities
1 Jan. 17, 1994 USA: CA:  Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando
Valley, Ventura, Orange		 $44,000 $15,300 60
2 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Central; South. Includes Tsunami 30,000 8,000 520
3 Sep. 3, 2010 New Zealand: Christchurch 6,500 5,000 0
4 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Prefecture Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
5 Dec. 26, 2004 Sri Lanka; Indonesia; Thailand; India; Bangladesh;
Myanmar; Maldives; Malaysia. Includes tsunami (2)		 10,000 1,000 220,000
6 Oct. 17, 1989 USA: CA: Loma Prieta, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Oakland Berkeley, Silicon Valley 10,000 960 70
7 Oct. 23, 2004 Japan: Honshu, Niigata, Ojiya, Tokyo, Nagaoka,
Yamakoshi (2)		 28,000 760 45
8 Sep. 21, 1999 Taiwan: Nantou, Hsinchuang, Taichung, Puli, Touliu,
Yun-lin, Chunghwa		 14,000 750 2,400
9 Dec. 28, 1989 Australia: New South Wales, Newcastle, Sydney 1,200 670 13
10 Aug. 17, 1999 Turkey: Izmit, Istanbul, Golcuk, Kocaeli, Sakarya
Yalova		 12,000 600 17,100

(1) As of February 2011.
(2) Multiple earthquakes.

Source: © 2010 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE.

 
THE TEN MOST COSTLY WORLD EARTHQUAKES/TSUNAMIS BY INSURED LOSSES, 1980-2011 (1)
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($ millions)

      Losses when occurred   
Rank Date Location Overall Insured (2) Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Honshu, Aomori, Tohoku; Miyagi, Sendai;
Fukushima, Mito; Ibaraki; Tochigi, Utsunomiya		 $210,000 $35,000-$40,000 15,840
2 Jan. 17, 1994 USA: CA: Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando
Valley, Ventura, Orange		 44,000 15,300 60
3 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: South Island, Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 16,000 13,000 181
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Bio Bio, Concepcion, Talcahuano, Coronel, Dichato,
Chillan; Del Maule, Talca, Curico. Includes tsunami		 30,000 8,000 520
5 Sep. 3, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside, Omihi,
Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton		 6,500 5,000 NA
6 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Prefecture Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
7 Dec. 26, 2004 Sri Lanka; Indonesia; Thailand; India; Bangladesh;
Myanmar; Maldives; Malaysia. Includes tsunami (3)		 10,000 1,000 220,000
8 Oct. 17, 1989 USA: CA: Loma Prieta, Santa Cruz, San Francisco,
Oakland, Berkeley, Silicon Valley		 10,000 960 70
9 Oct. 23, 2004 Japan: Honshu, Niigata, Ojiya, Tokyo,
Nagaoka, Yamakoshi (3)		 28,000 760 45
10 Sep. 21, 1999 Taiwan: Nantou, Hsinchuang, Taichung, Puli,
Touliu, Yun-lin, Chunghwa		 14,000 750 2,400

(1) As of January 2012.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.
(3) Multiple earthquakes.

NA=Data not available.

Source: © 2011, 2012 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE.

 
THE TEN MOST COSTLY WORLD EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMIS BY INSURED LOSSES, 1980-2013 (1)
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($ millions)

      Losses when occurred   
Rank Date Location Overall Insured (2) Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Honshu, Aomori, Tohoku; Miyagi, Sendai; Fukushima, Mito; Ibaraki;
Tochigi, Utsunomiya. Includes tsunami.		 $210,000 $40,000 15,880
2 Jan. 17, 1994 USA: CA: Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Orange 44,000 15,300 61
3 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: South Island, Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 20,000 14,600 185
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Bio Bio, Concepcion, Talcahuano, Coronel, Dichato, Chillan; Del Maule, Talca, Curico. Includes tsunami. 30,000 8,000 520
5 Sep. 4, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside, Omihi, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton 7,400 5,900 NA 
6 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Prefecture Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
7 Jun. 13, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 2,500 2,000 1
8 May 5 and May 29, 2012 Italy: Emilia-Romagna, San Felice del Panaro, Cavezzo, Rovereto di Novi, Carpi, Concordia, Bologna. Multiple earthquakes. 16,000 1,600 18
9 Dec. 26, 2004 Sri Lanka: Indonesia; Thailand; India; Bangladesh; Myanmar; Maldives; Malaysia. Multiple earthquakes, includes tsunami. 10,000 1,000 220,000
10 Oct. 17, 1989 USA: CA: Loma Prieta, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Silicon Valley 10,000 960 68

(1) As of February 2014. Ranked on insured losses when occurred.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.

NA=Data not available.

Source: © 2014 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE.

 
TOP 10 MOST COSTLY WORLD EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMIS BY INSURED LOSSES, 1980-2014 (1)
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($ millions)

      Losses when occurred  
Rank Date Location Overall Insured (2) Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, lbaraki, lwate, Miyagi, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata. Includes tsunami $210,000 $40,000 15,880
2 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 24,000 16,500 185
3 Jan. 17, 1994 USA: CA: Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Orange 44,000 15,300 61
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Concepcion, Metropolitana, Rancagua, Talca, Temuco, Valparaiso. Includes tsunami 30,000 8,000 520
5 Sep. 4, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside, Omihi, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton 10,000 7,400 NA
6 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
7 Jun. 13, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 2,700 2,100 1
8 May 20 and May 29, 2012 Italy: Emilia-Romagna, San Felice del Panaro, Cavezzo, Rovereto di Novi, Carpi, Concordia. Series of earthquakes 16,000 1,600 18
9 Dec. 26, 2004 Sri Lanka: Indonesia, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Malaysia. Includes tsunami 10,000 1,000 220,000
10 Oct. 17, 1989 USA: CA: Loma Prieta, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Silicon Valley 10,000 960 68

(1) As of January 2015. Ranked on insured losses when occurred.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.

NA=Data not available.

Source: © 2015 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE.

 
Top 10 Costliest World Earthquakes And Tsunamis By Insured Losses, 1980-2015 (1)
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($ millions)

      Losses when occurred  
Rank Date Location Overall Insured (2) Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, lbaraki, lwate, Miyagi, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata. Includes tsunami. $210,000 $40,000 15,880
2 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 24,000 16,500 185
3 Jan. 17, 1994 U.S. (CA): Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Orange 44,000 15,300 61
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Concepcion, Metropolitana, Rancagua, Talca, Temuco,
Valparaiso. Includes tsunami.		 30,000 8,000 520
5 Sep. 4, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside, Omihi, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton 10,000 7,400 0
6 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
7 Jun. 13, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 2,700 2,100 1
8 May 20 and May 29, 2012 Italy: Emilia-Romagna, San Felice del Panaro, Cavezzo, Rovereto di Novi, Carpi, Concordia. Series of earthquakes. 16,000 1,600 18
9 Dec. 26, 2004 Sri Lanka: Indonesia, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Malaysia. Includes tsunami. 10,000 1,000 220,000
10 Oct. 17, 1989 U.S. (CA): Loma Prieta, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Silicon Valley 10,000 960 68

(1) As of March 2016. Ranked on insured losses when occurred.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.

Source: © 2016 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE.

 
Top 10 Costliest World Earthquakes And Tsunamis By Insured Losses, 1980-2016 (1)
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($ millions)

      Losses when occurred  
Rank Date Location Overall Insured (2) Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, lbaraki, lwate, Miyagi,
Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata. Includes tsunami.		 $210,000 $40,000 15,880
2 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 24,000 16,500 185
3 Jan. 17, 1994 USA (CA): Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley,
Ventura, Orange		 44,000 15,300 61
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Concepcion, Metropolitana, Rancagua, Talca, Temuco,
Valparaiso. Includes tsunami.		 30,000 8,000 520
5 Sep. 4, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside, Omihi,
Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton		 10,000 7,400 0
6 Apr. 14-16, 2016 Japan: Kumamoto, Aso, Chuo Ward, Mashiki, Minamiaso,
Oita, Miyazaki, Fukuoka, Yamaguchi		 32,000 6,200 205
7 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
8 Nov. 13, 2016 New Zealand: Canterbury, Kaikoura, Waiau, Wellington,
Marlborough, Picton		 3,900 2,100 2
9 Jun. 13, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 2,700 2,100 1
10 May 20 and May 29, 2012 Italy: Emilia-Romagna, San Felice del Panaro, Cavezzo,
Rovereto di Novi, Carpi, Concordia. Series of earthquakes.		 16,000 1,600 18

(1) As of September 2017. Ranked on insured losses when occurred.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.

Source: © 2017 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE.

 
Top 10 Costliest World Earthquakes And Tsunamis By Insured Losses, 1980-2017 (1)
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($ millions)

      Losses when occurred  
Rank Date Location Overall Insured (2) Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, lbaraki, lwate, Miyagi, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata. Includes tsunami. $210,000 $40,000 15,880
2 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 24,000 16,500 185
3 Jan. 17, 1994 USA (CA): Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Orange 44,000 15,300 61
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Concepcion, Metropolitana, Rancagua, Talca, Temuco, Valparaiso. Includes tsunami. 30,000 8,000 520
5 Sep. 4, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside, Omihi, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton 10,000 7,400 0
6 Apr. 14-16, 2016 Japan: Kumamoto, Aso, Chuo Ward, Mashiki, Minamiaso, Oita, Miyazaki, Fukuoka, Yamaguchi 32,000 6,200 205
7 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
8 Nov. 13, 2016 New Zealand: Canterbury, Kaikoura, Waiau, Wellington, Marlborough, Picton 3,900 2,100 2
9 Jun. 13, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 2,700 2,100 1
10 Sep. 19, 2017 Mexico: Puebla, Morelos, Greater Mexico City 6,000 2,000 369

(1) As of January 2018. Ranked on insured losses when occurred.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.

Source: © 2018 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE; Wikipedia.

 
Top 10 Costliest World Earthquakes And Tsunamis By Insured Losses, 1980-2018 (1)
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(US$ millions)

      Losses when occurred  
Rank Date Location Overall Insured (2) Fatalities
1 Mar. 11, 2011 Japan: Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, lbaraki, lwate,
Miyagi, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata. Includes tsunami.		 $210,000 $40,000 15,880
2 Feb. 22, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 24,000 16,500 185
3 Jan. 17, 1994 USA (CA): Northridge, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley,
Ventura, Orange		 44,000 15,300 61
4 Feb. 27, 2010 Chile: Concepcion, Metropolitana, Rancagua, Talca,
Temuco, Valparaiso. Includes tsunami.		 30,000 8,000 520
5 Sep. 4, 2010 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Avonside, Omihi,
Timaru, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton		 10,000 7,400 0
6 Apr. 14-16, 2016 Japan: Kumamoto, Aso, Chuo Ward, Mashiki, Minamiaso,
Oita, Miyazaki, Fukuoka, Yamaguchi		 32,000 6,500 205
7 Jan. 17, 1995 Japan: Hyogo, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto 100,000 3,000 6,430
8 Nov. 13, 2016 New Zealand: Canterbury, Kaikoura, Waiau,
Wellington, Marlborough, Picton		 3,900 2,100 2
9 Jun. 13, 2011 New Zealand: Canterbury, Christchurch, Lyttelton 2,700 2,100 1
10 Sep. 19, 2017 Mexico: Puebla, Morelos, Greater Mexico City 6,000 2,000 369

(1) Data through 2018 as of January 2020. Ranked on insured losses when occurred. Updated by the Insurance Information Institute using data from Munich Re's Relevant geophysical events worldwide 1980-2018.
(2) Based on property losses including, if applicable, agricultural, offshore, marine, aviation and National Flood Insurance Program losses in the United States and may differ from data shown elsewhere.

Source: © 2020 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research; Wikipedia.