Life Insurance Statistics (2023) – United States Industry Facts and Figures

Written by Brian Greenberg
CEO / Founder & Licensed Insurance Agent

Last updated: March 20th, 2023

Reviewed by Paige Geisler
Licensed Insurance Agent

The Life Insurance Consumer Report Study 2023

Factors such as generation, household income, and race/ethnicity play a role in how consumers perceive life insurance. Let’s take a look at some life insurance stats and facts. They help to tell the story of life insurance and how various consumers perceive, research, and purchase it.

The following article is based on extensive research from various studies and surveys conducted by Insurancy between 2018 and 2023 regarding life insurance.

Here Are Some Quick Facts:

  • The most common reason people don’t have life insurance is that they think they cannot afford it. Among American adults, 32% to 47% believe life insurance is financially out of reach.
  • Around 65% of adults that don’t have life insurance say they don’t know how to buy a policy or aren’t sure what life insurance is right for them.
  • More than half of consumers buy life insurance from independent agents.
  • 52% of American adults have at least some life insurance, while 48% don’t have any at all. Young people and those with lower incomes are less likely to have life insurance.
  • Almost two-thirds of adults overestimate the cost of life insurance.
  • The most common reason for purchasing life insurance is to cover end-of-life expenses, though people also buy policies to pass on wealth, cover debt, invest, or supplement retirement incomes.
  • For most age groups, the preferred channels for learning more about life insurance are online media and financial advisors.

Life Insurance Market Research

Top Financial Concerns of Consumers

Every individual has financial concerns. These could include retirement, inheritance, or even monthly bills. The following poll conducted in 2023 examined the main financial concerns of Americans.

Top Financial Concerns of 2022

ConcernPercent of people who voiced this concern
Not having enough money for retirement63%
Paying medical costs for serious illness or accident56%
Maintaining the standard of living you enjoy52%
Paying medical costs for normal healthcare43%
Not having enough to pay normal monthly bills40%
Paying for your children's college36%
Paying rent, mortgage, or other housing costs35%
Making minimum payment on credit cards22%

While the list above doesn’t include life insurance directly as a top concern, having coverage can help reduce the burden of some of these issues. For example, life insurance can provide the peace of mind that your children have money for college no matter what happens to you. In some cases, whole life and other types of life insurance can even create cash savings, which help with retirement and financial needs later in life.

Life Insurance Market Penetration

Market penetration refers to the percentage of people who have a product or use a service. In the case of life insurance, as of 2020, around 52% of adult Americans had life insurance. That’s a decrease from the previous year, though life insurance market penetration has varied by 10% positively and negatively over the past decade.

Life Insurance Ownership Among American Adults, 2011 to 2020

  • 2011 – 63%
  • 2012 – 59%
  • 2013 – 62%
  • 2014 – 57%
  • 2015 – 63%
  • 2016 – 60%
  • 2017 – 59%
  • 2018 – 59%
  • 2019 – 57%
  • 2020 – 54%
  • 2021 – 52%

Group or Individual Life Insurance Policies

People can choose to purchase individual life insurance online or through an insurance agent. If they’re employed or part of another qualifying group, they may be eligible for group life insurance benefits. While close to 48% of adults don’t have life insurance, the 52% that do have individual life, group life, or a combination of the two.

Who Isn’t Covered Well by Life Insurance?

Breaking down life insurance penetration by demographics brings to light certain coverage gaps. Age, ethnicity or race, and other defining factors help determine those who are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured for life insurance. Younger generations, Hispanics, Blacks, and those making less than $50,000 a year are most likely to have no life insurance or not have enough life insurance.

Percent of Uninsured/Underinsured People by Age

  • Gen Z – 45%
  • Millennials – 44%
  • Gen X – 44%
  • Baby boomers – 31%

Percent of Uninsured/Underinsured People by Race/Ethnicity

  • Hispanic – 47%
  • Black – 46%
  • White – 38%
  • Asian – 27%

Percent of Uninsured/Underinsured People by Annual Household Income

  • Under $50,000 – 54%
  • $50,000 to $99,900 – 40%
  • $100,000 to $149,900 – 33%
  • More than $150,000 – 26%

Life Insurance Knowledge Gaps

A lack of knowledge about life insurance can lead many people to be uninsured or underinsured, even when they’re financially able to afford life insurance. Here are just a few examples of life insurance knowledge gaps that might impact policy ownership for someone.

  • Around 65% of American adults who don’t currently have life insurance say the main reason is they’re not aware of how to buy a policy.
  • Around 1 in 10 people who have life insurance don’t know what type of plan they have. Single people without children and working adults are the groups most likely to not understand their life insurance coverage.
  • 13% of adults think they don’t need life insurance if they’re in good health.
  • More than half of adults don’t understand the specifics of their policies. For example, 55% don’t know what a life settlement is or that they can potentially sell their policy.
  • Close to 30% of adults either surrendered a life insurance policy or let it lapse. Many of these people lost money because they didn’t fully understand their options.

Expected Cost of Term Life Insurance

The most common reason people don’t have life insurance is that they think they cannot afford it. This reason becomes more prevalent as people age. Older adults in their retirement years may be worried about the cost of life insurance due to premiums increasing with age and fixed incomes. These statistics indicate an opportunity. Insurance companies and other businesses that cater to life insurance for seniors can educate potential customers on affordable products to fit their personal needs.

Expected Cost of Term Life Insurance

Age/GenerationPercent that says they can't afford life insurance
Gen Z32%
Millennial39%
Gen X43%
Seniors (aged 55 and over)47%

Most people overestimate how much life insurance costs. For example, around half of all adults assume a term life policy for $250,000 in coverage would cost a 30-year-old male nonsmoker $500. The actual industry average is less than $200.

How Much Do People Think Life Insurance Costs?

Close to a third of all adults think $250,000 in term life insurance for a 30-year-old would cost $1,000 or more a year. Another 30% overestimates by thinking the cost would be $300 to $999. The last third estimates close to the actual average, which is under $300.

How Much Do People Think Life Insurance Costs

Price Range% of People Estimating in That Range
Less than $1008%
$100-30025%
$301-50015%
$501-1,00020%
More than $1,00032%

Young generations, such as Millennials and GenZers, are more likely to seriously overestimate the costs of life insurance when compared to their older counterparts. This demonstrates insurance companies and other professionals in the industry have some opportunities in marketing to educate younger target audiences. They can help these groups to understand that term life coverage can be more affordable than they believe.

Life Insurance Types & Products

According to LIMRA, a third-party market research firm, life insurance sales were up by 8% in the first 6 months of 2021 compared to numbers for early 2020. That is the fastest growth in this sector since 1983.

While various market factors were in place, the most obvious driver of this increase was the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic created more awareness of financial and end-of-life needs among families and the general population.

LIMRA looks at insurance market shares based on premium values. Using that method, it breaks down the types of insurance products purchased. It records the numbers for whole life, term life, and subcategories of universal life.

Percent of New Life Insurance Policies by Premium Sold January to June 2021

  • Whole life – 36%
  • Term life – 21%
  • Indexed universal life – 24%
  • Fixed universal life – 8%
  • Variable universal life – 11%

Simplified Underwriting

Policies that involve simplified underwriting are the most preferred. Almost half of all adults in the United States are more willing to buy a life insurance policy via simplified underwriting than traditional underwriting. The percentage is higher in certain subgroups, including Gen X and women.

Simplified underwriting is preferred due to convenience, no need for medical exams, and more transparency when it applies to premiums.

What Do People Say They Like About Simplified Underwriting?

What Do People Say They Like About Simplified Underwriting

Potential benefit of simplified underwriting% of women that say they would consider it for this reason% of men that say they would consider it for this reason
It's convenient (aka fast and/or easy)65%63%
It provides transparency about pricing and risk classification55%54%
No medical exam requirement58%53%
No need to see a doctor56%53%
It's seen as unbiased55%54%
No need for face-to-face interactions to make the policy purchase47%47%

Life Insurance Buying Behavior

Life insurance can serve a wide variety of financial needs beyond death benefits. However, the death benefit remains the most common reason people purchase these policies. Among consumers, 83% use it to cover final expenses like burials. Around two-thirds apply it to the transfer of wealth to their heirs. Still, more than half of the people polled indicated replacing income and supplementing retirement were reasons for purchasing life insurance. All of these responses suggest people realize the flexible financial benefits of life insurance.

Most Common Reasons People Buy Life Insurance

  • To cover burial or final expenses – 83%
  • To transfer wealth to others – 66%
  • As an income replacement – 62%
  • To supplement retirement income – 57%
  • To pay off debt, such as a mortgage – 50%
  • To pay for college for someone else – 14%

Other reasons people buy life insurance include providing funds for a business, investing with tax savings, official estate planning, and supporting future philanthropy.

Why Don’t People Buy Life Insurance?

  • They think it’s too expensive – 65%
  • They don’t think they need it – 56%
  • They aren’t sure how much or what type to buy – 52%
  • They just haven’t made time to do it yet – 45%
  • They don’t trust life insurance companies or agents – 35%

People don’t think they need life insurance for a number of reasons. Many believe they’re healthy, and there’s no need to buy a life insurance policy. This way of thinking ignores the fact that accidents and other unplanned events can happen. In some cases, people don’t think they need life insurance because they’re without debts or children.

How People Educate Themselves About Life Insurance

How people find out about life insurance and educate themselves on options varies. This depends on factors such as age and race. Not surprisingly, younger people are more likely to turn to online channels when researching potential policies. Only those aged 61 and older are more likely to use a financial advisor, although individuals approaching retirement years are almost equally likely to use online channels and financial advisors. People who are younger are more likely to turn to friends or family for recommendations and advice.

Percent of People That Prefer to Learn About Life Insurance in Various Ways, by Age

Percent of People That Prefer to Learn About Life Insurance in Various Ways, by Age

Resources21-30 years old31-40 years old41-50 years old51-60 years old61+ years old
Via online channels30%29%32%27%18%
Via a financial advisor13%21%21%25%38%
Via friends and family31%21%15%16%10%
Via life insurance agent5%6%4%2%2%
Via other channels11%9%5%5%4%
Don't get advice at all10%16%23%25%29%

Percent of People That Prefer to Learn About Life Insurance in Various Ways, by Race and Ethnicity

Percent of People That Prefer to Learn About Life Insurance in Various Ways, by Race and Ethnicity

ResourcesAsian/Pacific IslanderBlack/African AmericanWhiteHispanic/Latino
Via online channels29%28%25%26%
Via a financial advisor17%22%29%24%
Via friends and family19%14%16%19%
Via life insurance agent5%3%3%5%
Via other channels6%8%5%7%

When it comes to online channels, consumers use everything. Company websites and social media are popular places to find information. Almost half of all consumers interested in life insurance check both company sites (those belonging to life insurance companies directly) and aggregator sites. Aggregator sites are networks of independent agencies that come together to provide a scope of service and premium options that are competitive with larger organizations.

Other online channels consumers use to learn about life insurance include:

  • Agency or broker sites
  • Online calculators
  • Blogs from experts and advisors
  • Social media pages

How Do People Buy Life Insurance?

  • Via independent agents, online or in person – 51%
  • Via affiliated/captive agents, online or in person – 38%
  • Via direct marketing efforts – 6%
  • Via other channels – 5%

Consumers can purchase life insurance via several channels. Even so, independent and affiliated agents are the most common. Independent agents aren’t affiliated with a specific insurance company and can sell products from many companies. This is the most common option. Among people who buy life insurance, 51% buy from independent agents. These agents are often seen as less biased than affiliated agents. People may believe that being able to quote from many companies means independent agents can get them the best deal.

How Much Life Insurance Coverage Are People Buying?

On average, adults in America have around $168,000 in life insurance coverage. Many people buy much more than that, with younger generations tending to buy more life insurance than older generations.

Percent of People Buying Over $250,000 in Life Insurance Coverage in 2021 by Age

Percent of People Buying Over $250,000 in Life Insurance Coverage in 2021 by Age

AgePercentage
Age 18 to 4464%
Age 45 to 6430%
Age 65 and over5%

Percent of People Buying Life Insurance With Less Than $250,000 in Coverage in 2021 by Age

Percent of People Buying Life Insurance With Less Than $250,000 in Coverage in 2021 by Age

AgePercentage
Age 18 to 4430%
Age 45 to 6450%
Age 65 and over20%

Seniors aged 65 and older make up a very small percentage of people buying policies valued at more than $250,000. For policy values above that amount, people aged 18 to 44 make up the bulk of policyholders.

Percent of People Buying Life Insurance With More Than $250,000 in Coverage in 2021 by Age

Percent of People Buying Life Insurance With More Than $250,000 in Coverage in 2021 by Age

Range18 to 44 years old45 to 64 years oldOlder than 65
$250,001 to $500,00067%31%2%
$500,001 to $750,00076%23%1%
$750,001 to $1m81%19%1%
More than $1m84%16%0%

As coverage amounts increase, the percentage of plans purchased by younger people also increases. This correlation is not coincidental. One factor to consider when buying life insurance is how many years you need the policy to cover. Someone who is buying life insurance to replace their income and support their family may need 10 to 20 years of coverage. People aged 18 to 44 are most likely to be dealing with such considerations.

Life Insurance Company Statistics

Top 10 Life Insurance Companies in the United States by Assets

The top 10 life insurance companies in the United States have more than $3.5 trillion in assets. Consumers may look to life insurance companies with plenty of assets when they’re ready to make a purchase because they believe these companies are most likely to be in a position to pay out a claim when the time comes.

Top 10 Life Insurance Companies in the United States by Assets

CompanyAssets (in billions)
Prudential Financial680.33
MetLife455.63
New York Life369.49
TIAA-CREF341.26
American International Group327.19
Lincoln Financial314.99
Massachusetts Mutual313.21
Manulife Financial302.13
Jackson National297.09
Equitable Holdings242.23

Top 10 Writers Of Individual Life Insurance By Direct Premiums Written, 2021

The top 10 writers of individual life insurance in 2021 had more than 47% of the market share and collected more than $57 million in premiums.

Top 10 Writers Of Individual Life Insurance By Direct Premiums Written, 2021

CompanyDirect premiums writtenMarket share
Northwestern Mutual $14,260,711 9.5%
Massachusetts Mutual $9,936,2126.7%
New York Life $9,621,0086.4%
Prudential Financial $6,988,8484.7%
Lincoln National $6,864,6304.6%
State Farm$5,205,4673.5%
John Hancock$5,034,5563.4%
Transamerica$4,678,5363.1%
Pacific Life$4,533,6843.0%
Sammons Enterprises$4,313,3492.9%

Top 10 Writers Of Group Life Insurance By Direct Premiums Written, 2021

The top 10 writers of group life insurance in 2021 had almost 50% of the market share.

Top 10 Writers Of Group Life Insurance By Direct Premiums Written, 2021

CompanyDirect premiums writtenMarket share
MetLife Inc.$8,125,998 22.6%
Prudential Financial Inc.$3,655,49810.2%
New York Life Insurance Group$3,643,22110.2%
Securian Financial Group$2,702,7467.5%
Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co.$2,105,3465.9%
Unum Group$1,729,3674.8%
Lincoln National Corp.$1,436,7144.0%
Standard Life & Casualty Insurance Co.$1,069,7633.0%