In 2025, flooding caused by heavy rainfall or high water levels resulted in more damage in Saxony than in any other federal state. According to the Natural Hazards Report by the German Insurance Association (GDV), there were 9.6 claims per 1,000 policyholders. Nationwide, this figure was 3.7. A total of approximately 9,000 natural disaster claims were reported. The term refers to damage caused by natural hazards such as high water, heavy rain, or backwater. By comparison, in Rhineland-Palatinate—a state with a similar population—approximately 4,000 cases were reported in 2025. The average claim amount in Saxony was 1,800 euros. Nationwide, approximately 88,000 cases of natural disaster damage were recorded last year. The average amount of damage nationwide was higher than in Saxony—it stood at 4,700 euros. Slightly more than half of the residential buildings in the Free State (54 percent) are insured against natural hazards, according to reports. “Flash floods, heavy rain, severe storms, and an increasing number of hot days show that we must adapt to changing risks. We insurers expect that damage resulting from climate change could at least double by 2050,” explained Anja Käfer-Rohrbach, deputy managing director of the GDV. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
