Japan life insurers lift premium income 104.7% to $239b

Claims, annuities and benefits paid totalled $115.6b during the year.

Japan's 41 life insurance companies recorded higher premium income and growth in total assets in fiscal 2025. 

Premium income rose 104.7% year-on-year to $238.9b (JPY38.53t). Investment income increased 155.6% to $117.9b (JPY19.02t), according to the Japan Life Insurance Association's statistics covering the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Operating expenses rose 103.2% to $33.1b (JPY5.34t), whilst investment expenses increased 148.6% to $51.8b (JPY8.36t).

Total claims, annuities and benefits paid amounted to $115.6b (JPY18.65t), up 98.7% from a year earlier. 

New individual life insurance business totalled 17.49 million policies during the financial year, up 99.2% YoY. Individual annuity new business jumped 99.4% YoY to 1.49 million policies.

Group insurance new business rose 121.4% to 618,888 policies. Medical life insurance continued to expand, with new policies increasing 143.4% YoY to 90,357. 

Disability income insurance also recorded strong growth, with new policies rising 141.1% to 4,964.

($1.00 = JPY162.35)