Austrian insurance undertakings have been able to increase their premium volume and results during the first half of 2025. While non-life and accident insurance as well as health insurance posted signs of growth, life insurance business remained subdued, and growth was only achieved due to an increase in one-off premiums. This is a finding of the quarterly report published by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) on insurance undertakings published today. A further FMA report about the foreign business of Austrian insurance groups in 2024 again showed strong growth in Eastern Europe.
Development of premiums written and profits during H1 2025
Total premiums written stood at €13.25 billion during H1 2025, an increase of around 4.7% compared against the corresponding period in the preceding year.
- Non-life and accident insurance made the largest contribution towards premium volume of €8.78 billion (+4.4%).
- Health insurance contributed €1.717 billion, an increase by 8.9%.
- In contrast, life insurance wrote premiums totalling €2.73 billion, and increase of 3.7% compared against the corresponding period in the preceding year. However, this growth can be almost exclusively attributed to one-off premiums, which increased by 29% to €433 million. The volume of regular premiums remained almost unchanged at €2.3 billion.
The result from ordinary activities of all balance sheet groups increase by 62% to €1.735 billion during the first half.
- Non-life and accident insurance posted a 59% increase to €1.464 billion.
- Health insurance posted a nearly tripling of its result to €155.4 million.
- Life insurance posted a 23% increase to €115.8 million.
Report on International Business 2024
The FMA also published its report on international business for 2024 about Austrian insurance groups that are internationally active (Grawe, Merkur, Uniqa, Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), Wüstenrot). It once again shows significant growth in these business areas. The volume of net premiums generated abroad increased by 11% to €12.9 billion, with foreign business making up 55% of all business, thereby outstripping domestic business.
These insurers are particularly strongly represented in Central and Southeastern Europe (CESEE), with Czechia and Poland continuing to be the most important foreign markets. In 2024, VIG was once again the largest Austrian insurance group, with a total premium volume of €13.5 billion, followed by Uniqa with €7.5 billion. Significant developments in 2024 included among other things a doubling of VIG’s premium volume in Turkey as well as Uniqa’s market exit in Russia.
Despite ongoing geopolitical challenges and economic uncertainties, their foreign business is still a stable driver of growth. For several groups, profitability in international markets surpasses that for their domestic business. In its capacity as the competent authority for group supervision, the FMA is in continuing contact with national authorities in supervising their foreign business.
The Quarterly Report for Insurance Companies as well as the Annual Report on the International Business of Austrian Insurance Groups can be found on the FMA website (in German only).
Journalists may address further enquiries to:
Boris Gröndahl (FMA Media Spokesperson)
Telephone: +43/(1)249/59-6010
Mobile: +43 676 8824 9995
E-Mail: [email protected]