Austria
Austrian Insurance Market
In Austria the top 5 insurance groups in the country in the 1st to 3rd quarter 2024 generated approximately 71% of the gross written premiums. The two largest insurance groups contributed around 44%.
Market development 1st to 3rd quarter 2024 compared to the previous year
9M 2024 figures
In the 1st to 3rd quarter of 2024, the Austrian insurance industry generated a total of EUR 16.5 billion gross written premiums. Compared to the previous year this corresponds to an increase of approximately 5.4%, which is primarily attributable to the positive development of health insurance as well as of property and casualty insurance.
In the 1st to 3rd quarter 2024 an increase of 5.9% in the property and casualty insurance was recorded year-on-year. The motor vehicle insurance contributed with an increase in the gross written premiums of 7.0%, which is especially attributable to the increased price levels. The premiums in the motor third party liability insurance grew by 5.5%, in the motor own damage insurance (Casco) by 9.2%. The premiums in the non-motor lines of business grew by 5.3% in the 1st to 3rd quarter 2024.
In life insurance a moderate increase in gross written premiums of 1.2% was recorded in the 1st to 3rd quarter 2024. While the income from regular-premium life insurance declined slightly by 1.1% year-on-year, a double-digit gain of 21.1% was recorded in single-premium life insurance. Unit- and index-linked life insurance also recorded a significant increase of 11.7% compared to the same period in the previous year. In income protection insurance, which is also classified as life insurance, slight growth of 2.6% was achieved. Endowment insurance, which constitutes the largest share of life insurance, recorded a decline of 5.5%. The gross written premiums in the health insurance developed positively with an increase of 11.1% year-on-year.
According to internal calculations based on data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Austrian Insurance Association (VVO), in 2023 an average of EUR 2,220 per capita was spent for insurance in Austria. Of which the non-life sector accounted for EUR 1,656 and life insurance accounted for EUR 564.
Market share of the largest Insurance Groups
Per cent of total premium volume
VIG companies in Austria
VIG is represented by the two insurance companies Wiener Städtische and Donau Versicherung in Austria. s Versicherung, which was merged with Wiener Städtische in 2018, continues to exist as a brand for bancassurance customers. Wiener Städtische also operates via a branch in Slovenia. The branch in Italy was closed in 2024 for regulatory reasons.
VIG Holding operates out of Austria as a reinsurer of the Group and an insurer in the cross-border corporate business. In addition, since 2019 it operates via branches in the Northern European countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark in the traditional industrial insurance business. VIG Holding is assigned to the segment Group Functions.
The VIG insurance companies are the leading insurance group in Austria with a market share of 23.0% in the 1st to 3rd quarter 2024. In property and casualty insurance and in life insurance it holds first market rankings, in the health insurance business it takes third place.
Financial performance indicators in the reportable segment Austria
Insurance service revenue
The insurance service revenue in 2024 amounted to EUR 3,543.2 million (2023: EUR 3,307.4 million). This corresponds to an increase of 7.1%, which is due in particular to the positive development in the non-life insurance line of business (accounted for using the Premium Allocation Approach).
Insurance service revenue by line of business
Result before taxes
The result before taxes in the segment Austria amounted to EUR 336.1 million in 2024 (2023: EUR 385.9 million). This corresponds to a decrease of 12.9%, which is mainly due to the decrease in the total capital investment result and the decline in the combined ratio.
Net combined ratio
At 92.5%, the net combined ratio remained at a good level in 2024 despite a weather related higher claims ratio (2023: 91.6%).