PERILS Launches 2026 IED, Showing $150tn in Global Nat Cat Exposures

Why It Matters

The expanded exposure data gives insurers and reinsurers a clearer view of global cat risk, enabling more accurate pricing, capital allocation and model validation in a market where climate‑driven losses are accelerating.

Key Takeaways

• PERILS IED 2026 reports $150 trillion insured exposure across 21 countries.
• Year‑on‑year exposure rose 4.7% at constant USD rates.
• Current‑rate exposure increase reaches 15.2% due to weakening dollar.
• Data cover 67 market portfolios, broken down by CRESTA zones and lines.
• Benchmark aids cat‑model calibration, pricing of industry‑loss risk transfers.

Pulse Analysis

Natural catastrophe risk has become a central focus for insurers as climate change drives more frequent and severe events. Data aggregators like PERILS play a pivotal role by compiling granular, ground‑up exposure information that underpins the entire risk‑transfer ecosystem. The 2026 Industry Exposure Database (IED) offers the most comprehensive view to date, covering 21 economically diverse nations and providing insurers with a macro‑level lens to assess potential loss scenarios across property and motor lines.

The latest IED reveals $150 trillion of insured assets at risk, a 4.7% increase on a constant‑USD basis and a 15.2% jump when current exchange rates are applied. The disparity highlights the impact of a weakening dollar against major currencies in 2025, a factor that can distort loss estimates if not properly accounted for. By cataloguing 67 individual market portfolios and mapping exposures to CRESTA zones, the database enables precise regional analysis, supporting insurers in tailoring reinsurance treaties and catastrophe bond structures to actual risk concentrations.

For the industry, the IED’s granular benchmarks are essential for calibrating catastrophe models, validating AI‑driven analytics, and setting premiums that reflect true exposure. As insurers integrate advanced analytics and machine‑learning tools, reliable, unbiased exposure data becomes the foundation for transparent risk pricing and capital efficiency. The PERILS release therefore not only quantifies global cat risk but also strengthens the data infrastructure needed for resilient underwriting and innovative risk‑transfer solutions.