Life Insurance — by state

Each state shows the estimated share of adults (18+) with any individual or group life insurance coverage. The national average is about 51% (LIMRA Insurance Barometer 2024).

Nationally, about 40% of in-force individual life policies are term and 60% are cash-value (whole, universal, variable). Cash-value policies are a smaller share by count in low-cost / younger-buyer markets and a larger share where median household income and wealth-transfer planning are higher.

• Term — pure death benefit for a fixed window (10/20/30 years). Lowest premium for the most coverage.
• Whole / Universal / Variable — permanent coverage that accumulates cash value; higher premium per dollar of death benefit.

State-level policy-count rankings are not publicly disclosed. The five carriers below lead every state market by direct premium written (NAIC 2024) and are listed in the state detail panel above. Carrier contact information is intentionally omitted — use a licensed broker.

1. Northwestern Mutual
2. New York Life
3. MassMutual
4. Lincoln Financial
5. MetLife

• LIMRA Insurance Barometer Study 2024 (national + regional ownership rates).
• ACLI Life Insurers Fact Book 2024 (policy counts, term/cash split, average annual premium).
• NAIC Life/Fraternal Industry Snapshot 2024 (top insurers by direct premium written).
• State-level ownership and premium figures are estimates derived from regional LIMRA data, ACLI per-capita premium, and state household income. Life insurance data is refreshed annually.