Despite killing at least 286,000 people and devastating many lives and economies, the Boxing Day tsunami didn’t cost insurers much at all.

Indonesia’s Banda Aceh was the worst hit, with almost 233,000 people listed as dead or missing. Thailand’s toll has 5393 confirmed dead – with another 3071 (1000 of them tourists) listed as missing.

The majority of claims were by foreign tourists claiming flights home on their travel insurance and family members claiming life insurance payouts.

The insurance claims arising from the tsunami are small on a global scale, as most of the people affected by the disaster didn’t have insurance.

Australian insurers expect the disaster will have a minimal impact on their balance sheets. QBE and IAG say the devastation in Asia is unlikely to have a significant effect on their profits.

Promina says its only exposure is through Vero, which deals in travel insurance. “Any impact will be minimal,” it said.

At this stage, local and international life and general insurers are still saying they have no idea of the amount the disaster is likely to cost them – only that it isn’t likely to be much.