The ACLI Life Insurers Fact Book provides statistics and information on trends in the life insurance industry. Specific topics covered include assets, liabilities, income, expenditures, reinsurance, life insurance, and annuities.
Published November 17, 2025
The life insurance industry’s strength and long-term vision have endured since the publication of the first Fact Book in 1946. Our mission has remained consistent — delivering guarantees to people when they need them most. In 2024, life insurers paid $110 billion in annuity benefits, the most ever.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2024
11/08/2024. Life insurers are delivering record levels of guaranteed lifetime income. In 2023, they paid $104 billion in annuity benefits, up 9% over 2022 benefits paid. In addition, the total amount of life insurance in force reached a record $22.2 trillion, continuing five years of growth.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2023
11/07/2023. Life insurance coverage grows steadily, reaching a record $21.8 trillion in 2022, reflecting sustained demand for financial protection among working families. In addition, life insurers support essential parts of the American economy. Industry assets have more than doubled to $8.3 trillion in the past 20 years, with investments supporting jobs, businesses and infrastructure in all 50 states.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2022
11/28/2022. Life insurers paid $100 billion to life insurance beneficiaries and $97.7 billion to annuity holders in 2021 — both record highs — helping families and retirees maintain financial security.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2021 (PDF)
12/09/2021. During the pandemic, Americans turned to life insurance for protection — purchasing $3.3 trillion in new coverage in 2020 — while insurers paid a record $90+ billion to life insurance beneficiaries, marking a historic increase since the 1918 Influenza Epidemic. In addition, the 2021 edition celebrates 75 years of serving the life insurance industry, including agents, economists, researchers, state regulators, and federal agencies alike.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2020 (PDF)
11/24/2020. Retirement savings through annuities surged, with Americans contributing $204 billion to individual annuities and $143 billion to group annuities in 2019, reflecting growing demand for guaranteed income solutions.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2019 (PDF)
10/21/2019. Life insurers paid nearly $680 billion on contracts and policies owned in 2018. The average life insurance policy purchased reached $168,000, the highest level since 2009, reflecting increased coverage levels among consumers.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2018 (PDF)
10/26/2018. Life insurers reached new levels of consumer engagement in 2017. Americans purchased $3.1 trillion in new life insurance coverage, and total coverage in force remained above $20 trillion. Direct life insurance premiums increased for the fourth consecutive year reaching $189 billion, while contract payments reached a record $626 billion, exceeding the $582 billion level set in 2007.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2017 (PDF)
10/19/2017. Life insurers continued to provide financial protection and retirement income in 2016. Americans owned a total of 291 million life insurance policies and certificates, while annuity benefits paid reached $79 billion, the highest level since 2013.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2016 (PDF)
11/15/2016. Demand for life insurance remained strong in 2015. Americans purchased $2.9 trillion in new coverage, bringing total life insurance in force to $20.8 trillion at year’s end. Life insurance premiums totaled $156 billion, and 38 million total life insurance policies and certificates were issued, reflecting sustained consumer demand for long term financial protection.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2015 (PDF)
11/19/2015. Americans increasingly turned to annuities and life insurance in 2014. Individual annuity considerations rose nearly 38% to a record $247 billion, while consumers purchased $2.8 trillion in new life insurance coverage. Nearly 37 million total life insurance policies and certificates were issued.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2014 (PDF)
11/4/2014. Life insurers paid nearly $548 billion on contracts and policies owned in 2013. Life insurance policies totaled $107 billion, and annuity contracts accounted for $305 billion. Benefits paid for life insurance and annuities continued to rise, supporting household financial and retirement security.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2013 (PDF)
10/23/2013. Life insurers continued to support the U.S. economy in 2012 as industry assets rose to $5.78 trillion. Total premiums increased to $656 billion, driven in part by strong growth in group annuity considerations, reflecting ongoing demand for retirement income solutions.
Life Insurers Fact Book 2012 (PDF)
11/19/2012. Demand for life insurance and annuities remained strong in 2011. Americans purchased $2.9 trillion in new life insurance coverage, bringing total coverage in force to $19.2 trillion at year’s end. Nearly 39 million life insurance policies and certificates were issued, while insurers paid $74 billion in annuity benefits and $62 billion in life insurance benefits.