BestWeek Ranks UnitedHealth Group and AXA as the World’s Largest Insurers

Business Wire

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UnitedHealth Group Incorporated took the top spot in A.M. Best’s ranking of the world’s 25 largest insurance companies, as measured by 2015 net premiums written (NPW). AXA S.A. kept its top spot by assets, and was ranked at No. 2 by NPW. Allianz SE was ranked No. 2 by assets.

The rankings of the world’s largest global insurance companies, by assets and NPW, were released by A.M. Best in the Jan. 2, 2017, issue of BestWeek. The two rankings are based on BestLink data and additional research. Overall, the annual rankings found stability at the top, as the top five insurers by NPW and assets for 2015 remained in the same positions as in the previous year.

Insurers in Japan and China were among the biggest gainers in terms of NPW. Japan’s MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. saw its NPW rise 21.2%, which allowed it to break into the top 25 at No. 22. NPW for Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd. rose 19.6% as the Chinese multiple-line insurer rose from No. 14 to No. 10 in the ranking. The biggest gainer in terms of 2015 assets (in local currency) was Aviva plc, up 35.8% as the U.K.-based group rose to No. 8 from No. 17. Canada’s Manulife Financial Corp. moved to No. 12 from No. 13 as its assets rose 21.6%.

The top 10 global insurers ranked by 2015 non-banking assets are:

1. AXA S.A., France
2. Allianz SE, Germany
3. MetLife Inc., United States
4. Prudential Financial Inc., United States
5. Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd., Japan
6. Nippon Life Insurance Company, Japan
7. Legal & General Group plc, United Kingdom
8. Aviva plc, United Kingdom
9. Prudential plc, United Kingdom
10. Berkshire Hathaway Inc., United States

The top 10 global insurers ranked by 2015 NPW are:

1. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, United States
2. AXA S.A., France
3. Allianz SE, Germany
4. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., Italy
5. Anthem, Inc., United States
6. China Life Insurance (Group) Company, China
7. Kaiser Foundation Group of Health Plans, United States
8. State Farm Group, United States
9. Nippon Life Insurance Company, Japan
10. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd., China

BestWeek is published weekly by A.M. Best for insurance professionals, and is available as part of a subscription to the Best’s Insurance News & Analysis service. More information about the Best’s Insurance News & Analysis subscription service is available at www.ambest.com/sales/bina/default.asp. To order, contact Customer Service at +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5742 or at +1 800 424 2378 when calling from the United States and Canada.

To learn more about BestLink, visit http://www.ambest.com/sales/bestlink.

A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.