Overview
- Germany’s insurance lobby GDV, which published the figures Thursday, said 2025 insured losses dropped by about €3 billion from 2024 to €1.4 billion because no large, widespread floods hit the country.
- Storm and hail caused roughly €1 billion of the damage, while floods and other so‑called elementar events accounted for about €400 million, with average claims of around €2,100 versus €4,700 respectively.
- Elementar cover is an add‑on for floods, flash floods and groundwater that is not in standard building policies, so the totals reflect insured property only and exclude most motor losses.
- State results underscored regional gaps, with Niedersachsen at €128 million, Bayern €118 million, Hessen €98 million, Schleswig‑Holstein about €34 million, Hamburg €12 million and Sachsen‑Anhalt about €28 million.
- Only about 59% of homes nationwide carry elementar protection, with uptake lower in places such as Niedersachsen (about 40%), Schleswig‑Holstein (46%) and Hamburg (44%), prompting GDV’s call for broader cover, better prevention and climate‑resilient planning.