How much damage do termites cause annually?

Termites cause estimated global economic losses exceeding $40 billion (approximately 280 billion RMB) annually, making them one of the most economically damaging pests worldwide.

In the United States, termite damage and control costs total about $5 billion per year, with average treatment and repair costs per infested household ranging from $3,000 to $8,000.

In China, termites are distributed across approximately 25 provinces (mainly concentrated south of the Yangtze River), with direct economic losses estimated at over 20 billion RMB annually — including structural damage to buildings, destruction of furniture and wooden items, and termite control costs for water conservancy projects and cultural heritage sites.

The hidden cost of termite damage is particularly noteworthy — most homeowner's insurance does not cover termite damage (viewing it as a "preventable maintenance issue" rather than an "accidental loss"), meaning the cost of termite damage is typically borne entirely by the homeowner.

The cost of regular inspections (approximately 200–500 RMB per year) is far lower than repairing termite-induced structural damage (which can reach tens of thousands of RMB in severe cases).