U.S. life insurance application activity saw double-digit Year-over-Year (YOY) growth in April 2026 compared to April 2025, with activity up +19.0%, the highest YOY growth rate for any April on record. When comparing April 2026 to the same month in prior years, activity was up +20.4% compared to 2024 and up +32.9% compared to 2023. On a Year-to-Date basis (YTD), activity is also up in the double digits at +15.4%. On a Month-over-Month (MOM) basis, April 2026 was down -7.2% compared to March 2026, consistent with historical seasonal trends.

⁠All age bands saw growth in April 2026, in the double digits for ages 30+. Activity for ages 0-29 was up +4.3%, ages 30-39 up +11.7%, ages 40-49 up +20.0%, ages 50-59 up +27.2%, ages 60-69 up +27.1%, and ages 70+ up +41.2%.

Based on information reported to MIB by our members, all face amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M saw growth in April 2026, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M, while amounts $5M and over saw flat activity.

When including age bands, ages 0-29 saw growth for face amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K and from $500K up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $1M up to but not including $5M, flat activity for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K and from $250K up to but not including $500K and declines for amounts $5M and over. Ages 30-39 saw growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for amounts from $1M up to but not including $5M. Ages 40-49 saw growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K and for amounts from $500K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M. Ages 50-59 saw growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits growth for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M. Ages 60-69 saw double-digit growth for all amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, and double-digit declines for amounts $5M and over. Ages 70+ saw growth for face amounts from $1 up to but not including $1M and for amounts $2.5M and over, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K, from $250K up to but not including $500K, and for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M, in the triple digits for amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K, and flat activity for amounts from $1M up to but not including $2.5M.

April 2026 saw double-digit YOY growth across all product types, where this information was reported to MIB by our members. Term Life was up +35.4% YOY, Whole Life was up +26.6%, and Universal Life was up at +11.7%. Term Life saw double-digit YOY growth for ages 0-69 and triple-digit growth for ages 70+. Whole Life saw YOY growth for ages 30+, in the double digits for ages 40+, and declines for ages 0-29. Universal Life saw YOY growth for ages 30+, in the double digits for ages 40+, and flat activity for ages 0-29.

Methodology Change for 2026:
MIB has revised our methodology to fine tune our age and face amount bands to better meet industry needs, while also incorporating more precise filtering to isolate new business application activity and define applicant country. Please see the main MIB Life Index page on our website for details on our methodology change. All historical data in this report has been restated based on our new methodology, however, historical reports archived on our website reflect the methodology in place at the time of publication.

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