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      Analysis of the general insurance market in Australia

      KPMG’s General Insurance Insights 2025 provides concise, insightful analysis of the general insurance sector using statistical data from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and Insurance Council of Australia (ICA). 

      Our 2025 insights comprises two sections.


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      Analysis of Australia’a general insurance sector to 31 December 2024.  



      Strong insurer profits in 2024 were driven by a benign natural hazard period, premium price increases, COVID-19 business interruption provision releases and positive investment market returns. In today’s cost-of-living crisis, it remains important to acknowledge the cyclical nature of the insurance market and appreciate that premium price increases are reflective of pricing for increased disaster risk, inflationary pressures, increased costs of reinsurance and supply-chain shortages. A collaborative approach between the insurance industry, government and communities is needed to maintain an affordable and accessible insurance market for all Australians.

      Scott Guse

      Partner, Audit & Assurance

      KPMG Australia



      General insurance market snapshot

      Snapshot of the general insurance market data for direct insurers to 31 December 2024.

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      Industry size & capital strength

      • $68.0b gross written premiums
        (2023: $65.5b) 
      • 1.82 times Industry capital coverage ratio
        (2023: 1.76 times)
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      Industry profits

      • $6.1b profit after taxes from continuing operations
        (Previous 5-year average: $2.0b)*
      • $3.1b insurance profits (before investment income, after taxes)
        (Previous 5-year average: $0.97b)*
      • $3.0b investment income earned (after taxes)
        (Previous 5-year average: $1.03b)*
      • 87% industry combined ratio
        (Previous 5-year average: 92%)*
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      Products & customer impact

      • $1,277 average premium per risk for householders insurance
        (2023: $1,070)
      • $946 average premium per risk for domestic motor insurance
        (2023: $845)
      • 61% industry net loss ratio for householders insurance
        (Previous 5-year average: 76%)*
      • 71% industry net loss ratio for domestic motor insurance
        (Previous 5-year average: 72%)*
      • $0.57b losses from 2024 natural hazard events for the industry^
        (2023: $2.36b)
      • 49,000 natural hazard event claims for 2024^
        (2023: 143,900)

      * September 2023 quarter profit and loss information was not published by APRA. An average has been applied. 
      ^ Source: Insurance Council of Australia – Historical Significant Event and Catastrophe Data March 2025.



      Results and analysis

      Concise analysis of Australia’a general insurance sector to 31 December 2024.  

      The 2024 insurance industry profit was $6.1 billion (previous 5-year average: $2 billion) being predominantly driven by a benign natural hazard period, premium price increases, COVID-19 provision releases and positive investment market returns. The insurance industry profit (before investment income, after taxes) was $3.1 billion (previous 5-year average: $0.97 billion).

      Losses from natural hazard events totalled $566 million for the industry, a significant reduction from 2023’s $2,356 million. In 2024, no catastrophes were declared and there were only two significant events: the Valentine’s Day Storms in Victoria, and the Severe Weather in NSW and QLD in April. This compares to 2023, where two events – Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the Christmas and New Year Storms – were designated as Catastrophes.  

      This experience is reflected in the reduced natural hazard claims of 49,000 (2023: 143,900). Insurers’ natural hazard experience was generally below their planned-for allowances, and 2024 was the first year since 2019 that insurers recorded profitable underwriting results on their householders’ portfolios.

      2024 significant events

      Event numberDescriptionClaims
      count
      Total loss
      $m
      Significant event
      242
      Severe Weather NSW &
      QLD
      21,200332
      Significant event
      241
      Valentine's Day Storms 
      Victoria
      27,800234
      Total 49,000566

      2023 catastrophes/significant events

      Event numberDescriptionClaims 
      count
      Total loss
      $m
      Catastrophe 233Christmas and New 
      Year Storms
      106,0001,570
      Catastrophe 232Tropical Cyclone Jasper10,400409
      Significant event
      231
      Newcastle Hailstorm27,500377
      Total 143,0002,356

       

      Supporting data

      Source: Insurance Council of Australia – Historical Significant Event and Catastrophe Data March 2025.

      Insurers saw strong GWP growth across most products driven by premium rate increases. Rate increases reflect pricing of worsening disaster risk, increased reinsurance costs, moderating claims inflation, and supply chain shortages.

      On 20 September 2024, the Federal Court made a judgement indicating it intended to grant the application to ‘declass’ COVID-19 business interruption class actions. This favourable decision saw insurers significantly revise down provisions, releasing previous year provisions into current year profits.

      Insurers have maintained strong momentum investing in programs, technology, and strategic alliances to set themselves up for the future.

      • Investment in AI that helps identify customer pain points, better tailors and prices products more fairly, and creates other operational efficiencies has rapidly increased.  
      • In a deal worth $642 million, Allianz has (subject to regulatory approvals) announced a strategic partnership with the Royal Automobile Association (RAA), to purchase the general insurance business of RAA along with a 20-year exclusive distribution agreement, effectively expanding its consumer insurance presence in South Australia.
      • In a deal worth $855 million, IAG has (subject to regulatory approvals) announced a 25-year strategic alliance with RACQ where it will acquire 90% of RACQ’s insurance underwriting business, (with an option to acquire the remaining 10% in two years on consistent terms) and will provide RACQ general insurance products and services for RACQ members and Queenslanders.  
      • Further, set-up of more responsive on-call teams that scale up for weather events, and community education programs for resilience preparedness, demonstrate an approach to managing the insurance value chain on many new and non-traditional fronts.

      Income from investments (after taxes) was $3.0bn (previous 5-year average: $1.03bn) driven by strong performance of fixed interest securities, as well as most asset classes.

      During 2024, insurers continued to deal with the aftermath of making remediation payments and holding provisions related to ASIC’s crackdown on insurers’ ability to deliver on their pricing promises, which found consumers were overcharged $815 million for their insurance.

      The industry’s capital coverage at 31 December 2024 for direct insurers increased slightly to 1.82 times the APRA prescribed capital amount (2023: 1.76 times).



      KPMG’s general insurance insights explore the top trends that we believe are important to the sector for 2025. Our Global KPMG 2024 Insurance CEO Outlook highlighted Insurance CEOs are prioritising investing in gen AI and emerging technologies, embedding ESG into their strategies and upskilling their workforces. These priorities feature heavily in our top trends for the Australian general insurance market for 2025 and beyond.

      David Akers

      National Sector Leader, Insurance

      KPMG Australia



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