In 2011, there are 227 insurance companies in Ireland(the same number as in 2010), employing 13,500 people(compares to 13,556 in 2010).
In 2011, the total gross written premiums for insurance in Ireland is €11.365bn, a decrease of €1.359bn or 10.68% compares to €12.724bn in 2010.
The total benefits and claims paid for insurance in Ireland in 2011 is €10.573bn, a decrease of €0.165bn or 1.54% compares to €10.738bn in 2010.
On a per capita basis, an average of €2,486 was spent on insurance in Ireland in 2011, €361 less compares to €2,847 in 2010.
Insurance penetration in Ireland decreased on average from 8.15% in 2010 to 6.99% in 2011.
Ireland insurers total investment portfolio has decrease from €81.572bn in 2010 to €79.599bn in 2011, a decrease of €1.973bn or 2.42%.

Life Insurance
In 2011, the total gross written premiums for life insurance in Ireland is €8.485bn, a decrease of €1.203bn or 12.42% compares to €9.688bn in 2010.
The total benefits paid for life insurance in Ireland in 2011 is €8.736bn, an increase of €0.514bn or 6.25% compares to €8.222bn in 2010.
On a per capita basis, an average of €1,856 was spent on life insurance in Ireland in 2011, €312 less compares to €2,168 in 2010.
Life insurance penetration in Ireland decreased on average from 6.21% in 2010 to 5.22% in 2011.
Ireland life insurers total investment portfolio has decrease from €73.430bn in 2010 to €71.838bn in 2011, a decrease of €1.592bn or 2.17%.
In 2010, the life insurance distribution channel in Ireland(by insurance premiums underwritten) can be brokendown into 48.0% via brokers, 41.6% via direct writing and 10.4% via agents.

Non-Life Insurance
In 2011, the total gross written premiums for non-life insurance in Ireland is €2.880bn, a decrease of €0.156bn or 5.14% compares to €3.036bn in 2010.
The total claims paid for non-life insurance in Ireland in 2011 is €1.837bn, a decrease of €0.319bn or 12.68% compares to €2.516bn in 2010.
On a per capita basis, an average of €630 was spent on non-life insurance in Ireland in 2011, €49 less compares to €679 in 2010.
Non-Life insurance penetration in Ireland decreased on average from 1.94% in 2010 to 1.77% in 2011.
Ireland non-life insurers total investment portfolio has decrease from €8.142bn in 2010 to €7.761bn in 2011, a decrease of €0.381bn or 4.68%.
In 2010, the non-life insurance distribution channel in Ireland(by insurance premiums underwritten) can be brokendown into 59.1% via brokers and 40.9% via direct writing.

Motor Insurance
In 2011, the total gross written premiums for motor insurance in Ireland is €1.247bn, a decrease of €0.074bn or 5.60% compares to €1.321bn in 2010.
The total claims paid for motor insurance in Ireland in 2011 is €878mn, a decrease of €235mn or 21.11% compares to €1,113mn in 2010.
On a per capita basis, an average of €273 was spent on motor insurance in Ireland in 2011, €22 less compares to €295 in 2010.
Motor insurance penetration in Ireland decreased on average from 0.85% in 2010 to 0.77% in 2011.

Property Insurance
In 2011, the total gross written premiums for property insurance in Ireland is €947mn, a decrease of €24mn or 2.47% compares to €971mn in 2010.
The total claims paid for property insurance in Ireland in 2011 is €571mn, a decrease of €191mn or 25.07% compares to €762mn in 2010.
On a per capita basis, an average of €207 was spent on property insurance in Ireland in 2011, €10 less compares to €217 in 2010.
Property insurance penetration in Ireland decreased on average from 0.62% in 2010 to 0.58% in 2011.

In 2010, there are 227 insurance companies in Ireland(the same number as in 2009), employing 13,556 people(compares to 14,304 in 2009).
In 2010, the total gross written premiums for insurance in Ireland is €12.724bn, an increase of €0.254bn or 2.04% compares to €12.470bn in 2009.
The total benefits and claims paid for insurance in Ireland in 2010 is €10.738bn, a decrease of €0.588bn or 5.19% compares to €11.326bn in 2009.
On a per capita basis, an average of €2,847 was spent on insurance in Ireland in 2010, €45 more compares to €2,802 in 2009.
Insurance penetration in Ireland increased on average from 7.76% in 2009 to 8.15% in 2010.
Ireland insurers total investment portfolio has increase from €78.757bn in 2009 to €81.572bn in 2010, an increase of €2.815bn or 3.57%.

Life Insurance
In 2010, the total gross written premiums for life insurance in Ireland is €9.688bn, an increase of €0.342bn or 3.70% compares to €9.346bn in 2009.
The total benefits paid for life insurance in Ireland in 2010 is €8.222bn, a decrease of €0.354bn or 4.13% compares to €8.576bn in 2009.
On a per capita basis, an average of €2,168 was spent on life insurance in Ireland in 2010, €68 more compares to €2,100 in 2009.
Life insurance penetration in Ireland inreased on average from 5.82% in 2009 to 6.21% in 2010.
Ireland life insurers total investment portfolio has increase from €70.015bn in 2009 to €73.430bn in 2010, an increase of €3.145bn or 4.88%.
In 2009, the life insurance distribution channel in Ireland(by insurance premiums underwritten) can be brokendown into 50.7% via brokers, 38.7% via direct writing, 10.5% via agents, and 0.1% via other channels.

Non-Life Insurance
In 2010, the total gross written premiums for non-life insurance in Ireland is €3.036bn, a decrease of €0.088bn or 2.82% compares to €3.124bn in 2009.
The total claims paid for non-life insurance in Ireland in 2010 is €2.516bn, a decrease of €0.234bn or 8.51% compares to €2.750bn in 2010.
On a per capita basis, an average of €679 was spent on non-life insurance in Ireland in 2010, €20 less compares to €699 in 2009.
Non-Life insurance penetration in Ireland remained 1.95% on average in 2010, similar to 2009.
Ireland non-life insurers total investment portfolio has decrease from €8.742bn in 2009 to €8.142bn in 2010, a decrease of €0.6bn or 6.86%.
In 2009, the non-life insurance distribution channel in Ireland(by insurance premiums underwritten) can be brokendown into 58.2% via brokers and 41.8% via direct writing.

Motor Insurance
In 2010, the total gross written premiums for motor insurance in Ireland is €1.321bn, a decrease of €0.012bn or 0.09% compares to €1.333bn in 2009.
The total claims paid for motor insurance in Ireland in 2010 is €1.113bn, a decrease of €0.04bn or 3.47% compares to €1.153bn in 2009.
On a per capita basis, an average of €295 was spent on motor insurance in Ireland in 2010, €5 less compares to €300 in 2009.
Motor insurance penetration in Ireland increased on average from 0.83% in 2009 to 0.85% in 2010.

Property Insurance
In 2010, the total gross written premiums for property insurance in Ireland is €971mn, an increase of €26mn or 2.75% compares to €945mn in 2009.
The total claims paid for property insurance in Ireland in 2010 is €762mn, a decrease of €162mn or 17.53% compares to €924mn in 2009.
On a per capita basis, an average of €217 was spent on property insurance in Ireland in 2010, €5 more compares to €212 in 2009.
Property insurance penetration in Ireland increased on average from 0.59% in 2009 to 0.62% in 2010.

Other Non-Life Insurance
In 2010, the total gross written premiums for other non-life insurance in Ireland is €746mn, a decrease of €100mn or 11.82% compares to €846mn in 2009.
On a per capita basis, an average of €167 was spent on other non-life insurance in Ireland in 2010, €22 less compares to €189 in 2009.
Other non-life insurance penetration in Ireland decreased on average from 0.53% in 2009 to 0.48% in 2010.

There are 236 insurance companies in Ireland in 2008. As at the end of December 2009, insurance companies in Ireland employed 14,304 people, 5,025 people in life insurance sector and 9,279 people in non-life insurance.
In 2009, the total gross written premiums for insurance in Ireland is €12.470bn, a decrease of €0.961bn or 7.16% compares to €13.431bn in 2008.
The total benefits and claims paid for insurance in Ireland in 2009 is €11.326bn, an increase of €0.296bn or 2.68% compares to €11.030bn in 2008.
On a per capita basis, an average of €2,771 was spent on insurance in Ireland in 2009, €281 lesser or 9.21% decreased compares to €3,052 in 2008.
Insurance penetration in Ireland in 2009 remained the same as in 2008, stood at 7.5%.
Ireland insurers total investment portfolio has increase from €73.034bn in 2008 to €78.757bn in 2009, an increase of €5.723bn or 7.84%.

Life Insurance
In 2009, the total gross written premiums for life insurance in Ireland is €9.346bn, a decrease of €0.751bn or 7.44% compares to €10.097bn in 2008.
New annual premium (AP) business was €611m, down 39.6 % from €1,012m in 2008. Plus, a decrease of 3.4% was recorded for new single premium (SP) business in 2009 (€5,424m).
€8,576m in benefits and claims was paid by domestic life assurance companies during 2009, a decrease of €112m or 1.29% compares to €8,688m in 2008. The benefits and cliams can be brokendown into €7332m for surrenders and maturities, €772m for death/critical illness Claims, and €472m for annuities.
The total value of life assurance protection in force at the end of 2009 was estimated at €400.1bn, compared to €382.7bn at the end of 2008, which is an increase of just over 4.5%.
On a per capita basis, an average of €2,077 was spent on life insurance in Ireland in 2009, €218 less compares to €2,295 in 2008.
Life insurance penetration in Ireland remained the same as in 2008, stood at 5.6%.
Ireland life insurers total investment portfolio has increase from €63.818bn in 2008 to €70.015bn in 2009, an increase of €6.197bn or 9.71%.

Non-Life Insurance
In 2009, the total gross written premiums for non-life insurance in Ireland is €3.123bn, a decrease of €0.211bn or 6.33% compares to €3.334bn in 2008. Premium income decreased across almost all classes of business. Employer’s liability (–18.3%), commercial motor (–12.7%) and commercial property insurance(–11.6%) experienced the largest falls.
Motor insurance remains the largest class of non–life insurance at almost €1.333bn (43% of all non–life business). Property is the second largest class of non–life business (30%).
Net written premiums (i.e., total premiums after reinsurance costs have been deducted) were €2.727bn, a decrease of 6% on 2008. Net earned premiums were €2.808bn in 2009 (down 7.2% on 2008).
The number of new claims rose by 3.1% in 2009 to 624,967. 51% of new claims were motor claims while 33% were made on property insurance policies (household and commercial property).
Net incurred claims costs increased by 6% to €2,254m leading to a net underwriting loss in 2009 of €179m. After investment income is added, the market made an operating profit of €135m, down 41% on 2008.
In 2009 the non–life market produced a net claims ratio of 80%. In other words claims cost 80 cent out of every €1 earned in premium. The claims ratio varied between sectors: in motor insurance it increased from 76.8% in 2008 to 78.7% in 2009. The property claims ratio rose from 91% in 2008 to 94.5% in 2009. The liability claims ratio increased from 42.3% to 70.9% in 2009.
On a per capita basis, an average of €694 was spent on non-life insurance in Ireland in 2009, €64 less compares to €758 in 2008.
Non-Life insurance penetration in Ireland increased on average from 1.8% in 2008 to 1.9% in 2009.
Ireland non-life insurers total investment portfolio has decrease from €9.216bn in 2008 to €8.742bn in 2009, a decrease of €0.474bn or 5.14%.

Motor Insurance
In 2009, the total gross written premiums for motor insurance in Ireland is €1.333bn, a decrease of €0.088bn or 6.2% compares to €1.421bn in 2008. 73% of motor insurance gross written premium is accounted for by private motor business(€972m) with the remaining 27% derived from commercial motor business(€361m).
Net earned motor premiums reduced 6.7% from €1.424bn in 2008 to €1.329bn in 2009.
The number of new motor claims notified during 2009 is 316,118(243,411 for private motor and 72,707 for commercial motor), a decreased by 1.7% compared to 2008.
Net written premiums (i.e., total premiums after reinsurance costs have been deducted) were €1.296bn, and net earned premiums were €1.329bn in 2009). Net incurred claims costs in 2009 is €1.046bn. The net underwriting result deteriorated from a profit of €20m in 2008 to a loss of €8.1m in 2009. However, after taking account of investment income attributable to the class, there was a substantial operating profit of €143m.

Property Insurance
In 2009, the total gross written premiums for property insurance in Ireland is €945m, a decrease of 3.4% compares to 2008.
The property insurance market is split between household (59% of premium income at €561m) and commercial property (41% of premium income at €384m).
Net written premiums (i.e., total premiums after reinsurance costs have been deducted) were €784m. Net earned premium decreased by 5.3% to €771m and net incurred claims cost fell by 1.8% to €728m, made up of 204,008 total number of claims. The property insurance market recorded a net underwriting loss of €197m in 2009 and, even after taking account of investment income attributable to the class, there was a substantial operating loss of €148m.

Liability Insurance
In 2009, the total gross written premiums for liability insurance in Ireland is €532m, a decrease of 10.9% compares to 2008. The total premiums can be divided into €208m for employer's liability insurance and €324m for public liability insurance.
Net written premiums (i.e., total premiums after reinsurance costs have been deducted) were €464m. Net earned premium decreased by 12.3%, from €569m in 2008 to €499m in 2009. Net incurred claims increased by almost 47% in 2009 to €354m, made up of 25,184 total number of claims. Liability insurers made a net underwriting profit of €17m in 2009, which is down 91% from €180m in 2008. After taking account of investment income attributable to the class, there was a substantial operating profit of €120m.

Other Non-Life Insurance
In 2009, the total gross written premiums for personal accident and travel insurance is €65m, a decrease of 10.6% on 2008. This class of business generated a net underwriting profit of €16.4m in 2009. After taking account of investment income attributable to the class, there was an operating profit of €19.2m.
Other classes of non–life business, including marine, aviation and transit (MAT), credit and suretyship, other fi nancial loss covers and legal expenses insurance were worth almost €249m in gross written premium in 2009. These classes of business produced a net underwriting loss of €6.6m in 2009. After taking account of investment income attributable to the class, there was a small operating profit of €1.4m.