Life Insurance Penetration In India

While people might understand the importance and need of a life insurance policy, how many actually buy it?

To measure this, a term called life insurance penetration is used. Let’s understand what Life Insurance Penetration is.

 

What is life insurance penetration?

 

Life insurance penetration is an important metric that measures the development and adoption of life insurance in India¹. It is one of the ways of measuring how many people buy life insurance in India. Life insurance penetration is calculated as a percentage of life insurance premium to the overall GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the country¹.

As the GDP and the premium collected change every financial year, the rate of penetration is calculated for each financial year. The data is then studied to find out how life insurance is progressing. A higher rate shows that life insurance is reaching a higher percentage of the population.

 

Life Insurance Penetration in India

 

After the life insurance segment was liberalised in 2000 and private players were allowed to operate and sell, the life insurance penetration has seen steady growth till the financial year 2009-10². In the financial year 2001-02, life insurance penetration stood at 2.15%², which grew to 2.59%² the next year and reached 4.60%² during the financial year 2009-10. Here’s a look at how insurance penetration has performed over the years² –

In recent years, the penetration has remained stable, but the number is still low. Here’s how India stands against other countries¹ –

 

What Does Life Insurance Penetration Means for a consumer?

 

As a consumer, life insurance penetration does not affect your coverage. However, it does impact how the life insurance industry innovates or reacts to the numbers.

Some of the reasons why insurance penetration may below are as follows^3,4 –

• Lack of awareness about the importance of insurance
• Incomplete understanding of life insurance products

 

A low life insurance penetration rate might urge insurers to work towards increasing insurance penetration and insurance awareness among people.

As insurance companies may innovate their products and offer more benefits, customers might get better life insurance plans at affordable premiums. For instance, nowadays, many plans come with inbuilt riders for additional protection. Similarly, under some ULIPs, you might get additional assured returns.

So, understand what life insurance penetration is all about and how it is performing over the years.

Reference

1. https://irdai.gov.in/hi/annual-reports (Page 7 of Part 1 of the IRDA Annual report 2021-22)

2. https://irdai.gov.in/hi/annual-reports (Page 8 of Part 1 of the IRDA Annual report 2021-22)

3. https://www.financialexpress.com/money/insurance/the-key-to-reaching-indian-masses-for-general-insurance/2900430/

4. https://www.outlookindia.com/business/here-are-a-few-ways-by-which-insurance-sector-can-increase-its-footprint-in-india-news-198939

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