Losses from natural disasters totalled $US380 billion (294 billion euros) last year, topping the previous record set in 2005. Damage claims reached record levels, too.
The Munich Re reinsurance group in Germany said $US105 billion in damage compensation was claimed by payments to insurance clients, compared with $US101 billion in 2011.
Munich Re said the eathquake and tsunami in Japan in March alone caused damage claims of between $US35 - $US40 billion.
The earthquake in New Zealand on 22 February added a further $US13 billion to insurance payments for the year.
Deutsche Welle Radio reports these two earthquakes together made up about half of last year's total insured losses from natural catastrophes.
according to Munich Re, the worst weather disaster in 2011 was the floods in Thailand, which caused losses of at least $US10 billion and killed about 800 people.
In spite of rising payouts, Munich Re said its earnings from insurance premiums had risen to 46 billion euros in 2010, resulting in a profit of 2.4 billion euros.
