Disasters can have high costs associated with responding to and recovering from them. This page lists the estimated economic costs of relatively recent disasters.
The costs of disasters vary considerably depending on a range of factors, such as the geographical location where they occur. When a large disaster occurs in a wealthy country, the financial damage may be large, but when a comparable disaster occurs in a poorer country, the actual financial damage may appear to be relatively small. This is in part due to the difficulty of measuring the financial damage in areas that lack insurance. For example, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, with a death toll of around 230,000 people, cost a 'mere' $15 billion,[1] whereas in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, in which 11 people died, the damage was six times higher.
The most expensive disaster in human history is the Chernobyl disaster, costing an estimated $700 billion.[2] Chernobyl's circumstances make it a unique but particularly devastating situation that is unlikely to ever happen again. Estimations have only increased over time, with the recent figure coming from the release of new government data up to 2016.[2] Furthermore, the cost is expected to perpetually increase for several thousand years as cleanup operations and the economic impact of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone continue indefinitely.[3] The most expensive natural disaster is the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, costing an estimated $360 billion.[4]
This table lists disasters which are estimated to have an economic cost of at least 1 billion United States dollars without taking inflation into account.
Cost ($billion) | Fatalities | Event | Type | Year | Nation(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actual | Inflated to (2023 unless otherwise stated) | |||||
$700[2] | $900 | 30–500 | Chernobyl disaster | Contamination (Radioactive) | 1986 | Soviet Union (, , ) |
$360[5][6][4] | $488 | 19,759 | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami + Fukushima nuclear disaster | Undersea Megathrust Earthquake, Tsunami, Contamination (Radioactive) | 2011 | Japan |
$200[7] | $399.9 | 5,502 – 6,434 | Great Hanshin earthquake | Earthquake | 1995 | Japan |
$163.6[8][9] | $164 | 59,259 – 62,013 | 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake | Earthquake | 2023 | West Asia ( Turkey, Syria) |
$148[10] | $209 | 87,587 | 2008 Sichuan earthquake | Earthquake | 2008 | China |
$125[11] | $195 | 1,245 – 1,836 | Hurricane Katrina | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | United States |
$125[11] | $155 | 107 | Hurricane Harvey | Tropical cyclone | 2017 | United States |
$113[11] | $127 | 161 | Hurricane Ian | Tropical cyclone | 2022 | North America (, , , others) |
$105[12][13] | $124 | 6,511 | 2020 South Asian floods | Flood | 2020 | South Asia (, , , others) |
$91.6[11] | $114 | 3,057 – 8,498[14] | Hurricane Maria | Tropical cyclone | 2017 | North America (, , , others) |
$75[15] | $84 | 107 | Hurricane Ida | Tropical cyclone | 2021 | North America (, , , others) |
$70[16] | $82 | 451 | 2019–20 Australian bushfire season | Wildfire | 2019-20 | Australia |
$68.7[11] | $91 | 233 | Hurricane Sandy | Tropical cyclone | 2012 | North America (, , , others) |
$64.8[11] | $81 | 134 | Hurricane Irma | Tropical cyclone | 2017 | North America (, , , others) |
$64[17] | $72 | 243 | 2021 European floods | Flood | 2021 | Europe (, , , others) |
$60 – $100[18] | $84 – $140 | 11 | Deepwater Horizon oil spill | Contamination (Oil) | 2010 | United States |
$53.25[19] | $131 | 5,000+ | 1988–1990 North American drought | Drought | 1988-89 | United States, Canada |
$49.6 – $56.1[20] | $65 – $73 | 104 | 2012–2013 North American drought | Drought | 2012-13 | United States, Canada |
$49[21] | $101 | 57 | 1994 Northridge earthquake | Earthquake | 1994 | United States |
$46[22] | $58 | 273 | 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes | Earthquake | 2016 | Japan |
$45.7[23] | $62 | 815 | 2011 Thailand floods | Flood | 2011 | Thailand |
$40[24] | $54 | 185 | 2011 Christchurch earthquake | Earthquake | 2011 | New Zealand |
$40[25] | $45 | 1,700 | 2022 Pakistan floods | Flood | 2022 | Pakistan |
$38[11] | $54 | 214 | Hurricane Ike | Tropical cyclone | 2008 | North America (, , , others) |
$32[26][27] | $38 | 278[26] | 2020 China floods | Flood | 2020 | China |
$28.4[28] | $28.4 | 137 | Typhoon Doksuri | Tropical cyclone | 2023 | Southeast Asia ( |
$28[29][30] | $45 | 68 | 2004 Chūetsu earthquake | Earthquake | 2004 | Japan |
$27.4[11] | $43 | 87 | Hurricane Wilma | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | North America (, , , others) |
$27.3[11] | $59.3 | 65 | Hurricane Andrew | Tropical cyclone | 1992 | United States |
$26.5[31] | $29.8 | 237[32][33][34][35] | February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm | Winter storm, Infrastructure failure (electric) | 2021 | North America (, , ) |
$26.1[11] | $42.1 | 124 | Hurricane Ivan | Tropical cyclone | 2004 | North America (, , , others) |
$25.1[36] | $30.5 | 74 | Hurricane Michael | Tropical cyclone | 2018 | North America (, , , others) |
$24.0[20] | $29.1 | 103 | 2018 California wildfires | Wildfire | 2018 | United States |
$22.3 [37] | $30.2 | 111 | 2011 Sikkim earthquake | Earthquake | 2011 | Southern Asia (, , , others) |
$21.8 – $135[38] | $37.5 – $232.3 | 2,996 | September 11 terrorist attacks | Terror attack | 2001 | United States |
$21.1 [39] | $22 | 5,951 – 20,000 | Storm Daniel | Tropical cyclone, Dam failure | 2023 | Libya, Greece |
$20 [40] | $74 | 4,900 | 1980 Irpinia earthquake | Earthquake | 1980 | Italy |
$20[41] | $20.8 | 24,501 | 2022 European heatwaves | Heatwave | 2022 | Europe (, , , others) |
$19.2 | $32.5 | 110 | 2002 European floods | Flood | 2002 | Central Europe (, , , others) |
$19.1[26][42] | $22.5 | 77 | Hurricane Laura | Tropical cyclone | 2020 | North America (, , , others) |
$18.6 (official estimated) [citation needed] |
$20.9 | 398 (official confirmed) | 2021 Henan floods | Flood | 2021 | China |
$18.5[11] | $28.9 | 97 – 125 | Hurricane Rita | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | United States |
$17.9 (official estimated) [citation needed] |
$21.3 | 108 (official confirmed) | Typhoon Hagibis | Tropical cyclone | 2019 | Japan |
$17.6 (estimated) [43] | $17.6 | 401 | 2024 Noto earthquake | Earthquake | 2024 | Japan |
$17.6[44] | $32.2 | 140 | Cyclone Lothar | European windstorm | 1999 | Western Europe (, , , others) |
$16.9[11] | $27.3 | 35 | Hurricane Charley | Tropical cyclone | 2004 | North America (, , ) |
$16.9[45] | $22.4 | 363 | 2012 Nigeria floods | Flood | 2012 | Nigeria |
$16.0[46] | $22.7 | 308 | 2009 L'Aquila earthquake | Earthquake | 2009 | Italy |
$16.0[47] | $17 | ≥52 | Hurricane Otis | Tropical cyclone | 2023 | Mexico |
$15.8 | $15.8 | 815 | Typhoon Yagi | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | Southeast Asia (, , ,, others) |
$15.8[48] | $21 | 27 | 2012 Northern Italy earthquakes | Earthquake | 2012 | Italy |
$15.1[49][50] | $19.2 | 603 | Hurricane Matthew | Tropical cyclone | 2016 | North America (, , , others) |
$15 – 26 (property damage alone)[51] | $15 – 26 | 118+ | Hurricane Helene | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | North America (, , , others) |
$15 – $20[52] | $31.6 – $42.2 | 47 | Great Flood of 1993 | Flood | 1993 | United States |
$15.0[53] | $35 | 197 | Cyclones Daria, Vivian, and Wiebke | European windstorm | 1990 | Western Europe (, , , others) |
$15[1] | $24.2 | 230,000 – 280,000 | 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami | Earthquake, Tsunami | 2004 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$15.0[54] | $21 | 56,000 | 2010 Russian heat wave | Wildfire, Heatwave | 2010 | Russia |
$15.0[55][56][better source needed] | $18.6 | 44 | October 2017 Northern California wildfires | Wildfire | 2017 | United States |
$15 – $30[57] | $21 – $41.9 | 525 | 2010 Chile earthquake | Earthquake | 2010 | Chile |
$15[58] | $17.7 | 218 | 2020 Beirut explosion | Ammonium nitrate explosion | 2020 | Lebanon |
$14.5[59] | $24 | 72,000 | 2003 European heatwave | Heatwave | 2003 | Europe (, , , others) |
$14.2[60] | $36.6 | 38,000 | 1988 Armenian earthquake | Earthquake | 1988 | Armenia ( Soviet Union) |
$14.2[11] | $19.2 | 58 | Hurricane Irene | Tropical cyclone | 2011 | North America (, , , others) |
$14[61] | $17 | 21 | Typhoon Jebi | Tropical cyclone | 2018 | East Asia (, , , others) |
$13 – $14[26][62] | $15.3 – $16.5 | 128[63] | Cyclone Amphan | Tropical cyclone | 2020 | Eastern South Asia (, , , others) |
$12.9[64] | $18.3 | 138,366 | Cyclone Nargis | Tropical cyclone | 2008 | Myanmar |
$12.7[65] | $16.3 | 130 | November 2015 Paris attacks | Terror attack | 2015 | France |
$11.7[66] | $13.8 | 1 | 2020 Zagreb earthquake | Earthquake | 2020 | Croatia, Slovenia |
$11.5[67] | $13.5 | 4[67] | August 2020 Midwest derecho | Derecho | 2020 | United States |
$11[68] | $14 | 299 | August 2016 Central Italy earthquake | Earthquake | 2016 | Italy |
$11 [69] | $11 | 17 | 2023 Emilia-Romagna floods | Flood | 2023 | Italy |
$10.4[70] | $13.6 | 12 | Typhoon Fitow | Tropical cyclone | 2013 | China |
$10.2[20] | $13.8 | 348 | 2011 Super Outbreak + Hackleburg–Phil Campbell and Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornadoes | Tornado outbreak | 2011 | United States |
$10 – $15[71] | $12.7 – $19 | 13 | 2016 Louisiana floods | Flood | 2016 | United States |
$10[20] | $37 | 1,700 – 10,000 | 1980 United States heat wave | Drought | 1980 | United States |
$10[72] | $22.4 | 64 | Typhoon Mireille | Tropical cyclone | 1991 | Japan |
$10[73] | $18.3 | 2,415 | 1999 Jiji earthquake | Earthquake | 1999 | Taiwan |
$10[74] | $14.7 | 11 | 2007 Chūetsu earthquake | Earthquake | 2007 | Japan |
$10[75] | $12.9 | 8,964 | April 2015 Nepal earthquake | Earthquake | 2015 | Southern Asia (, , , others) |
$10[53] | $14.7 | 44 | Cyclone Kyrill | European windstorm | 2007 | Western Europe (, , , others) |
$10[20] | $14.2 | 16 | June 2008 Midwest floods | Flood | 2008 | United States |
$10[20] | $53.5 | 242,419 – 655,000 | 1976 Tangshan earthquake | Earthquake | 1976 | China |
$10[76] | $11.9 | 3 | Typhoon Faxai | Tropical cylone | 2019 | Japan, Wake Island |
$10[77] | $10 | 8 | Typhoon Shanshan | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | Japan, South Korea |
$9.91[78] | $12.8 | 615 – 727 | 2014 Ludian earthquake | Earthquake | 2014 | China |
$9.86 (official estimated) [citation needed] |
$11.8 | 238 (official confirmed) | 2018 Japan floods | Flood | 2018 | Japan |
$9.8[11][79][80][81] | $15.8 | 50 | Hurricane Frances | Tropical cyclone | 2004 | North America (, ) |
$9.5[11] | $23.4 | 60 | Hurricane Hugo | Tropical cyclone | 1989 | North America (, , , others) |
$9.5[82][83] | $12.1 | 2 | 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire | Wildfire | 2016 | Canada |
$9.4[11] | $17.6 | 604 | Hurricane Georges | Tropical cyclone | 1998 | North America (, , , others) |
$9.28[84] | $11.1 | 105 | Typhoon Lekima | Tropical cyclone | 2019 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$9[85] | $14.5 | 28 | Typhoon Songda | Tropical cyclone | 2004 | Japan |
$8.8[86] | $9.2 | 4 | 2022 Fukushima earthquake | Earthquake | 2022 | Japan |
$8.5[87] | $15.5 | 17,127 – 18,373 | 1999 İzmit earthquake | Earthquake | 1999 | Turkey |
$8.5[11] | $14.6 | 55 | Tropical Storm Allison | Tropical cyclone | 2001 | United States |
$8.4[88] | $8.4 | 11 | Cyclone Gabrielle | Tropical cyclone | 2023 | New Zealand |
$8.3[11] | $11.7 | 153 | Hurricane Gustav | Tropical cyclone | 2008 | North America (, , , others) |
$8.3[26] | $9.8 | 189 | Hurricane Eta | Tropical cyclone | 2020 | Caribbean basin (, , , others) |
$8.1 – $14[89][90] | $11.3 – $19.6 | 100,000 – 220,000 | 2010 Haiti earthquake | Earthquake | 2010 | Haiti |
$8.1[91] | $9.7 | 89 | Cyclone Fani | Tropical cyclone | 2019 | India, Bangladesh |
$8[92] | $18.7 | 45,000 | 1990 Manjil–Rudbar earthquake | Earthquake | 1990 | Iran |
$7.9[11] | $12.7 | 3,035 | Hurricane Jeanne | Tropical cyclone | 2004 | North America (, , , others) |
$7.8[93] | $7.8 | 84+ | Cyclone Remal | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | Southern Asia (, , ) |
$7.6[94] | $7.6 | 7 | 2023 Slovenia floods | Flood | 2023 | Julian Alps (, , ) |
$7.5[95] | $12.9 | 20,023 | 2001 Gujarat earthquake | Earthquake | 2001 | India, Pakistan |
$7.3[67] | $8.6 | 5[67] | Hurricane Sally | Tropical cyclone | 2020 | United States |
$7.3[96] | $7.3 | 31 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 19–27, 2024 | Tornado outbreak | 2024 | United States |
$7.13[97] | $9.2 | 196 | Typhoon Rammasun | Tropical cyclone | 2014 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$7[98] | $7 | 2,960 | 2023 Al Haouz earthquake | Earthquake | 2023 | Morocco |
$7[99] | $17.2 | 0 | Exxon Valdez oil spill | Contamination (Oil) | 1989 | North America (, ) |
$6.7[100] | $37.9 | 229,000 | Typhoon Nina + 1975 Banqiao Dam failure | Tropical cyclone, Dam failure | 1975 | China, Taiwan |
$6.5[11] | $11.9 | 74 | Hurricane Floyd | Tropical cyclone | 1999 | North America (, , ) |
$6.5[101] | $9.6 | 13 | 2007 United Kingdom floods | Flood | 2007 | United Kingdom |
$6.41[102][103][104] | $8 | 24 | Typhoon Hato | Tropical cyclone | 2017 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$6.4[105] | $10.6 | 7 | Space Shuttle Columbia disaster | Space flight accident | 2003 | United States |
$6.3[106] | $10.8 | 28 | Typhoon Saomai-Osang | Tropical cyclone | 2000 | East Asia (, , ) |
$6.3[16] | $8.9 | 173 | Black Saturday bushfires | Wildfire | 2009 | Australia |
$6.2[107] | $7.7 | 630 | 2017 Iran–Iraq earthquake | Earthquake | 2017 | Iran, Iraq |
$6.2[108] | $8.8 | 789 | Typhoon Morakot | Tropical cyclone | 2009 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$6.2[109] | $6.2 | 70 | Hurricane Beryl | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | Caribbean basin (, , , , others) |
$6.1[11] | $11.4 | 11,374+ | Hurricane Mitch | Tropical cyclone | 1998 | North America (, , , others) |
$6.1[53] | $8.5 | 75 | Cyclone Xynthia | European windstorm | 2010 | Western Europe (, , , others) |
$6.1[110] | $7.2 | 7 | 2020 Petrinja earthquake | Earthquake | 2020 | Balkans (, , , others) |
$6.1[96] | $6.1 | 6 | Tornado outbreak of May 6–10, 2024 | Tornado outbreak | 2024 | United States |
$6[111] | $14.7 | 63 | 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake | Earthquake | 1989 | United States |
$6[112] | $10.6 | 75 | Typhoon Prapiroon | Tropical cyclone | 2000 | Northeast Asia (, , , others) |
$6[113] | $9.9 | 11 | Northeast blackout of 2003 | Infrastructure failure (electric) | 2003 | United States, Canada |
$6[53] | $8.5 | 26 | Cyclone Klaus | European windstorm | 2009 | Southeastern Europe (, , , others) |
$6[114] | $7.8 | 5 | 2013 Alberta floods | Flood | 2013 | Canada |
$5.7[115] | $6 | 33 | Tornado outbreak of March 31–April 1, 2023 | Tornado outbreak | 2023 | United States |
$5.5[53] | $8.6 | 24 | Cyclone Gudrun | European windstorm | 2005 | North Europe (, , , others) |
$5.5[11] | $9.1 | 51 | Hurricane Isabel | Tropical cyclone | 2003 | United States |
$5.5[116] | $11.6 | 270[116] | 1993 Storm of the Century | Winter storm | 1993 | United States |
$5.5[96] | $5.5 | 102 | 2023 Hawaii wildfires | Wildfire | 2023 | United States |
$5.2[117] | $8.1 | 86,000 – 87,351 | 2005 Kashmir earthquake | Earthquake | 2005 | Pakistan , India |
$5.2[118] | 19.2 | 5,000 | 1980 El Asnam earthquake | Earthquake | 1980 | Algeria |
$5.1[119][120][121] | $6.1 | 84[120][121] | Hurricane Dorian | Tropical cyclone | 2019 | North America (,,, others) |
$5.07[122] | $101.6 | 422,499 – 4,000,000 | 1931 China floods | Flood | 1931 | China |
$5[123] | $14.2 | 10,000 – 35,000 | 1985 Mexico City earthquake | Earthquake | 1985 | Mexico |
$5[124] | $9.7 | 284 – 590 | Typhoon Herb | Tropical cyclone | 1996 | East Asia (, , ) |
$5[40] | $8.3 | 2,266 | 2003 Boumerdès earthquake | Earthquake | 2003 | Algeria |
$5[125] | $6 | 5[125] | Tropical Storm Imelda | Tropical cyclone | 2019 | United States |
$4.8[126] | $5.8 | 483 | 2018 Kerala floods | Flood | 2018 | India |
$4.7[11] | $9.4 | 63 | Hurricane Opal | Tropical cyclone | 1995 | North America (, , , others) |
$4.7[127] | $6.6 | 0 | 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull | Volcanic eruption | 2010 | Iceland, Northern Hemisphere (ash cloud only) |
$4.67[128] | $8.9 | 11 | 1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake | Earthquake | 1997 | Italy |
$4.6[129][130][131] | $6 | 6,329 – 7,403 | Typhoon Haiyan | Tropical cyclone | 2013 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$4.6[132] | $4.6 | 22 | 2022–2023 California floods | Flood | 2022-23 | United States |
$4.5[133] | $18.9 | 136 | 1979 Montenegro earthquake | Earthquake | 1979 | Yugoslavia (, , ) |
$4.5 [134] | $8.5 | 114 | 1997 Central European flood | Flood | 1997 | Central Europe |
$4.47[135] | $8.5 | 240 | 1997 Indonesian forest fires + 1997 Southeast Asian haze + Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 | Wildfire, subsequent haze and plane crash | 1997 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$4.44[136] | $8.1 | 9,887 | 1999 Odisha cyclone | Tropical cyclone | 1999 | South Asia (, , , others) |
$4.4[137] | $6.5 | 78 | Cyclone Gonu | Tropical cyclone | 2007 | Oman, Iran |
$4.3[138] | $4.3 | 6 | Typhoon Mawar | Tropical cyclone | 2023 | West Pacific basin (, , , others) |
$4.26[139] | $5.6 | 46 | Cyclone Phailin | Tropical cyclone | 2013 | South Asia (, , , others) |
$4.2[140] | $7.7 | 143 | 1999 Athens earthquake | Earthquake | 1999 | Greece |
$4.2[141] | $5.5 | 123 | Hurricane Manuel | Tropical cyclone | 2013 | Mexico |
$4.1[20] | $6.8 | 42 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 2003 | Tornado | 2003 | United States |
$4[53] | $10.7 | 22 | Great Storm of 1987 | European windstorm | 1987 | Western Europe (, , , others) |
$4[142] | $5 | 98 | 2017 Chiapas earthquake | Earthquake | 2017 | Mexico, Guatemala |
$3.98[143][144] | $6.2 | 88 | Hurricane Dennis | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | North America and the Antiles (, , , others) |
$3.9[145] | $6.1 | 1,673 | Hurricane Stan | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | Central America (, , , others) |
$3.9[146] | $4.4 | 90 | Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021 | Tornado | 2021 | United States |
$3.74[147] | $4.5 | 134 | Typhoon Mangkhut | Tropical cyclone | 2018 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$3.7[148] | $3.7 | 181 | 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods | Flood | 2024 | Brazil, Uruguay |
$3.6[149] | $4.6 | 7 | Cyclone Yasi | Tropical cyclone | 2011 | Australia |
$3.6[150] | $3.7 | 93 | 2022 Luding earthquake | Earthquake | 2022 | China |
$3.5[151] | $6.4 | 10,000 – 30,000 | Vargas tragedy | Flood, landslide and mudflow | 1999 | Venezuela |
$3.3[152] | $4 | 41 | 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake | Earthquake | 2018 | Japan |
$3.2[153] | $17.1 | 5,000 | 1976 Çaldıran–Muradiye earthquake | Earthquake | 1976 | Turkey, Iran |
$3.2[154] | $8.9 | 7[155] | Space Shuttle Challenger disaster | Space flight accident | 1986 | United States |
$3.14[156] | $4.4 | 37 | 2010 Central European floods | Flood | 2010 | Central Europe (, , , others) |
$3.1[157] | $16.6 | 8,000 | 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake | Earthquake | 1976 | Philippines |
$3.1[11] | $6.7 | 6 | Hurricane Iniki | Tropical cyclone | 1992 | United States |
$3.1[158] | $4.7 | 5,749 | 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake | Earthquake | 2006 | Indonesia |
$3.1[159] | $3.6 | 4 | 2019–20 Puerto Rico earthquakes | Earthquake | 2020 | Puerto Rico |
$3.1[160] | $3.1 | 8 | 2023 Canadian wildfires | Wildfire | 2023 | Canada, United States |
$3.09[161][162] | $3.2 | 29 | Hurricane Fiona | Tropical cyclone | 2022 | North America (, , , others) |
$3.0[163] | $29.5 | 36 | 1964 Niigata earthquake | Earthquake | 1964 | Japan |
$3.0[11] | $7.7 | 318 | Hurricane Gilbert | Tropical cyclone | 1988 | North America (, , , others) |
$3.0[164] | $3.8 | 676 | 2016 Ecuador earthquake | Earthquake | 2016 | Latin America (, , ) |
$2.9[20] | $3.8 | 22 | June 2012 North American derecho | Derecho | 2012 | United States |
$2.9[20] | $3.5 | 3 | 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods | Flood | 2019 | United States |
$2.8[165] | $3.8 | 158 | 2011 Joplin tornado | Tornado | 2011 | United States |
$2.68[166] | $4.6 | 29 | AZF chemical plant explosion | Explosion | 2001 | France |
$2.67[167] | $3.3 | 14 | Cyclone Debbie | Tropical cyclone | 2017 | Australia, New Zealand |
$2.63[168] | $3.7 | 2 | 2010 Canterbury earthquake | Earthquake | 2010 | New Zealand |
$2.6[169] | $6.4 | 13 | 1989 Newcastle earthquake | Earthquake | 1989 | Australia |
$2.5[20] | $3 | 8 | Tornado outbreak sequence of May 2019 | Tornado | 2019 | United States |
$2.5[20] | $3.1 | 2 | 2017 Montana wildfires | Drought, Wildfire | 2017 | United States |
$2.5[20] | $3.1 | 0 | 2017 Minneapolis hailstorm | Hailstorm | 2017 | United States |
$2.4[170] | $2.4 | 52+ | 2024 European floods | Flood | 2024 | Europe (, , , others) |
$2.31[171][172] | $2.3 | 126 | Typhoon Gaemi | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$2.3[173] | $3.4 | 15,000 | Cyclone Sidr | Tropical cyclone | 2007 | Southern Asia (, , , others) |
$2.3[174] | $3.3 | 1,115 | 2009 Sumatra earthquakes | Earthquake | 2009 | Indonesia |
$2.23[175] | $3.5 | 25 | Typhoon Matsa | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | East Asia (, , , others) |
$2.2[20] | $2.7 | 0 | 2017 Denver hailstorm | Hailstorm | 2017 | United States |
$2.2[176] | $3 | 642 | 2011 Van earthquakes | Earthquake | 2011 | Turkey |
$2.2[177] | $2.2 | 463 – 564 | Cyclone Mocha | Tropical cyclone | 2023 | Southern Asia (, , , , others) |
$2.1[20] | $2.6 | 0 | Tornado outbreak of March 6–7, 2017 | Tornado | 2017 | United States |
$2[178] | $10.7 | 11 | Teton Dam disaster | Dam failure | 1976 | United States |
$2[179] | $10.1 | 1,700 | 1977 Vrancea earthquake | Earthquake | 1977 | Black Sea basin (, , , others) |
$2[180] | $3.7 | 1,900 – 5,800 | 1999 Colombia earthquake | Earthquake | 1999 | Colombia |
$2[181] | $3.7 | 20 | December Storm | European windstorm | 1999 | Central Europe (, , ) |
$2[182] | $3.4 | 1 | 2001 Nisqually earthquake | Earthquake | 2001 | United States |
$2[183] | $2.7 | 33 | Costa Concordia disaster | Maritime disaster | 2012 | Italy |
$2 – $4[184] | $2.5 – $5 | 370 | 2017 Central Mexico earthquake | Earthquake | 2017 | Mexico |
$2[185] | $2 | 46 | 2024 Persian Gulf floods | Flood | 2024 | Persian Gulf basin (, , , others) |
$2[186] | $2 | 10 | Hurricane Debby | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | North America and Antiles (, , , others) |
$2[187] | $2.6 | 26 | 2013 Moore tornado | Tornado | 2013 | United States |
$1.9[188] | $3.1 | 1 | 2003 Tokachi earthquake | Earthquake | 2003 | Japan |
$1.9[189] | $1.9 | 6 | Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse | Bridge collapse | 2024 | United States |
$1.81[190] | $1.9 | 20 | Typhoon Hinnamnor | Tropical cyclone | 2022 | East Asia (, , , others) |
$1.8[191] | $11.1 | 8,210 | Hurricane Fifi–Orlene | Tropical cyclone | 1974 | Central America (, , , others) |
$1.8[192] | $2.4 | 36[192] | 2011 Groundhog Day blizzard | Winter storm | 2011 | North America (,,) |
$1.7[193] | $5.8 | 165 | Piper Alpha explosion | Explosion (oil rig) | 1988 | United Kingdom |
$1.7[194] | $3.8 | 138,866 | 1991 Bangladesh cyclone | Tropical cyclone | 1991 | Southern Asia (, , , others) |
$1.6[195] | $2.8 | 1,259 | 2001 El Salvador earthquakes | Earthquake | 2001 | Latin America (, , ) |
$1.6[196] | $2.1 | 216 | 2013 Lushan earthquake | Earthquake | 2013 | China |
$1.6[197] | $1.9 | 500 | 2020 Sudan floods | Flood | 2020 | Sudan |
$1.6[198] | $1.8 | 2,248 | 2021 Haiti earthquake | Earthquake | 2021 | Haiti |
$1.6[199] | $1.6 | 21 | Storm Ciarán | European windstorm | 2023 | Europe (, , , others) |
$1.57 | $5.8 | 269 | Hurricane Allen | Tropical cyclone | 1980 | North America (, , , , others) |
$1.56[200] | $1.8 | 41 | 2020 Elazığ earthquake | Earthquake | 2020 | Turkey |
$1.55[201] | $1.8 | 0 | 2019 Dallas tornado | Tornado | 2019 | United States |
$1.5[202] | $2.5 | 34,000 | 2003 Bam earthquake | Earthquake | 2003 | Iran |
$1.5[203] | $2.3 | 172 | Typhoon Talim | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | Southeast Asia (, , ) |
$1.5[204] | $1.8 | 270 | Brumadinho dam disaster | Dam failure | 2019 | Brazil |
$1.5[205] | $1.5 | 0 | Hurricane Francine | Tropical cyclone | 2024 | United States, Mexico |
$1.418[206][207] | $1.7 | 5 | 2020 Nashville tornado | Tornado | 2020 | United States |
$1.4[208] | $1.8 | 44 | Cyclone Winston | Tropical cyclone | 2016 | Fiji |
$1.4[209] | $1.7 | 1,593 | Cyclone Idai | Tropical cyclone | 2019 | Southern Africa (, , , others) |
$1.4[26] | $1.6 | 84 | Hurricane Iota | Tropical cyclone | 2020 | Latin America (, , , others) |
$1.4[210] | $1.6 | 1 | 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption | Volcanic eruption | 2021 | Spain |
$1.3[211] | $1.5 | 1 | 2021 Fukushima earthquake | Earthquake | 2021 | Japan |
$1.3[212] | $2.7 | 9,748 | 1993 Latur earthquake | Earthquake | 1993 | India |
$1.25[213] | $1.6 | 18 | Hurricane Odile | Tropical cyclone | 2014 | Mexico, United States |
$1.24 – $2[214] | $2.1 – $3.3 | 15 | Cedar Fire | Wildfire | 2003 | United States |
$1.2 – $1.4[26][215][216] | $1.4 – $1.6 | 0 | 2020 Calgary hailstorm | Hailstorm | 2020 | Canada |
$1.217[217] | $11.8 | 266 | 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak | Tornado outbreak | 1965 | United States |
$1.2[218] | $1.4 | 0 | Cyclone Veronica | Tropical cyclone | 2019 | Australia, East Timor |
$1.2[96] | $1.2 | 8 | 2024 Houston derecho | Derecho | 2024 | United States |
$1.18[219] | $2.4 | 3,063 | Typhoon Fred | Tropical cyclone | 1994 | East Asia (, , ) |
$1.17[220] | $1.8 | 20 | Typhoon Haitang | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | East Asia (, , ) |
$1.1[221] | $1.5 | 1,901 | Typhoon Bopha | Tropical cyclone | 2012 | Philippines |
$1.1[222] | $4.6 | 0 | Three Mile Island accident | Contamination (Radiation) | 1979 | United States |
$1.1[223] | $4.1 | 57 | 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens | Volcanic eruption, Subsequent landslides and mudslides | 1980 | United States |
$1.1[224] | $1.5 | 204 | Tropical Storm Agatha | Tropical cyclone | 2010 | Central America (, , , others) |
$1.1[225] | $1.1 | 0 | East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment | Contamination (Hazardous materials) | 2023 | United States |
$1.1[226] | $1.1 | 26 – 37 | 2024 Central European floods | Flood | 2024 | Central Europe (, , , others) |
$1.08 (official estimated) [citation needed] |
$1.4 | 173 (official confirmed) | 2015 Tianjin explosions | Explosion | 2015 | China |
$1.07 (official estimated) [citation needed] |
$11.2 | 5,098 (official confirmed) | Typhoon Vera | Tropical cyclone | 1959 | Japan |
$1.06[227] | $1.2 | 102 | Typhoon Vamco | Tropical cyclone | 2020 | Southeast Asia (, , others) |
$1.03[228] | $2.1 | 33 | Tropical Storm Alberto | Tropical cyclone | 1994 | United States |
$1.03[229] | $1.3 | 142 | Typhoon Damrey | Tropical cyclone | 2017 | Southeast Asia (, , , others) |
$1.01[230][231] | $1.6 | 22 | Hurricane Emily | Tropical cyclone | 2005 | North and Central America (, , , others) |
$1[232] | $17.9 | 142,800 | 1923 Great Kantō earthquake | Earthquake | 1923 | Japan |
$1[233] | $10 | 2,500 | Vajont Dam disaster | Landslide, subsequent megatsunami and dam failure | 1963 | Italy |
$1[234] | $10 | 1,100 | 1963 Skopje earthquake | Earthquake | 1963 | North Macedonia ( Yugoslavia) |
$1[235] | $7.3 | 10,000 | 1972 Nicaragua earthquake | Earthquake | 1972 | Nicaragua |
$1[236] | $5.4 | 23,000 | 1976 Guatemala earthquake | Earthquake | 1976 | Guatemala, Belize |
$1[237] | $1.4 | 921 | Typhoon Ketsana | Tropical cyclone | 2009 | Southeast Asia (, , , ) |
$1[238] | $2.8 | 22,540 | Armero tragedy | Volcano eruption, Mudslides | 1985 | Colombia |
$1 | $1.1 | 98 | Surfside condominium collapse | Structure failure | 2021 | United States |
$1[239] | $4.7 | 50 | 1978 Thessaloniki earthquake | Earthquake | 1978 | Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria |
$1[240] | $3.1 | 104 | 1983 Sea of Japan earthquake | Earthquake | 1983 | Japan |
$1[241] | $2.8 | 177 | 1985 Algarrobo earthquake | Earthquake | 1985 | Chile |
$1[242] | $2.7 | 1,000 – 5,000 | 1987 Ecuador earthquakes | Earthquake | 1987 | Ecuador |
$1[243] | $2.6 | 709 | 1988 Nepal earthquake | Earthquake | 1988 | Nepal, India |
$1[244] | $2.2 | 561 | 1992 Cairo earthquake | Earthquake | 1992 | Egypt |
$1[245] | $2.1 | 1,100 | 1994 Páez River earthquake | Earthquake | 1994 | Colombia |
$1[246] | $1.9 | 145 | 1998 Adana–Ceyhan earthquake | Earthquake | 1998 | Turkey |
$1[247] | $1.8 | 845 – 894 | 1999 Düzce earthquake | Earthquake | 1999 | Turkey |
$1[187] | $1.8 | 41 | 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado | Tornado | 1999 | United States |
$1[248] | $1.3 | 1 | 2014 South Napa earthquake | Earthquake | 2014 | United States |
$1[249] | $1.3 | 2,500 | 2015 Indian heat wave | Heatwave | 2015 | India |
$1[250] | $1.3 | 22 | 2015 Illapel earthquake | Earthquake | 2015 | Chile, Argentina |
$1[251] | $1 | 137-507 | 2024 Chile wildfires | Wildfire | 2024 | Chile |
This table lists notable disasters which are estimated to have an economic cost of less than 1 billion United States dollars without taking inflation into account. This includes historical disasters, such as the Great Chicago Fire, which would surpass the value of $1 billion in modern currency.
Note: All damage figures are listed in millions of United States dollars.
Cost | Fatalities | Event | Type | Year | Nation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$Million | $Million (2023) | |||||
$935[252][253] | $1223 | 3 | 2013 Washington, Illinois tornado | Tornado | 2013 | United States |
$930[254] | $1108 | 51 | 2019 Albania earthquake | Earthquake | 2019 | Albania |
$922[255] | $1171 | 14 | 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires | Wildfire | 2016 | United States |
$910 (official estimated)[citation needed] | $1104 | 5007 (official confirmed) | 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami | Earthquake and tsunami | 2018 | Indonesia |
$800[256] | $3737 | 28 | 1978 Miyagi earthquake | Earthquake | 1978 | Japan |
$500 – $600[257] | $3089 – $3707 | 71 | Cyclone Tracy | Tropical cyclone | 1974 | Australia |
$700[258] | $1566 | 800 | 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption | Volcano | 1991 | Philippines |
$700[259] | $948 | 1 | 2011 Slave Lake wildfire | Wildfire | 2011 | Canada |
$600[260] | $3707 | 335 | 1974 Super Outbreak + Xenia tornado | Tornado outbreak | 1974 | United States and Canada |
$575[261] | $698 | 43 | 2018 Ponte Morandi collapse | Bridge collapse | 2018 | Italy |
$550[262] | $5665 | 6,000 | 1960 Valdivia earthquake | Earthquake | 1960 | Pacific Rim (, , , others) |
$530[263] | $4158 | 70,000 | 1970 Ancash earthquake | Earthquake | 1970 | Peru |
$483[264][265][266] - $543[267] | $710 - 798 | 13 | I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse | Structure failure | 2007 | United States |
$500[268] | $3762 | 65 | 1971 San Fernando earthquake | Earthquake | 1971 | United States |
$500[269] | $1466 | 17 | 1984 Romeoville petroleum refinery disaster | Explosion | 1984 | United States |
$484[270] | $2032 | 99 | Typhoon Tip | Tropical cyclone | 1979 | East Asia (, , , others) |
$481[271] | $481 | 1,434 | Cyclone Freddy | Tropical cyclone | 2023 | South Africa (, , , others) |
$400[26] | $471 | 119 | 2020 Aegean Sea earthquake | Earthquake and tsunami | 2020 | Greece, Turkey |
$370[272] | $719 | 0 | Ariane 5 Flight 501 | Space flight accident | 1996 | French Guiana |
$350[273] | $1760 | 1 | New York City blackout of 1977 | Infrastructure failure (electric) | 1977 | United States |
$328[274] | $600 | 0 | Mars Climate Orbiter & Mars Polar Lander | Space flight accident | 1999 | United States |
$273[275] | $347 | 0 | Hitomi breakup | Space flight accident | 2016 | Japan |
$222[276] | $5646 | 300 | Great Chicago Fire | Fire | 1871 | United States |
$118[277] | $184 | 0 | CryoSat-1 | Space flight accident | 2005 | Russia |
$86.1[278] | $676 | 500,000 | 1970 Bhola cyclone | Tropical cyclone | 1970 | Bangladesh, India |
$25[279][280] | $789 | 1,490 – 1,635 | Sinking of the Titanic | Shipwreck | 1912 | United Kingdom |
$18.1[281] | $182 | 0 | Mariner 1 | Space flight accident | 1962 | United States |
$250[282][207] | $2847 | 90 | 1953 Worcester tornado | Tornado | 1953 | United States |
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