The top insurance companies of the world make up a major part of the financial services worldwide, and a huge part of insurance worldwide. Adoption of financial market reforms by almost all the countries worldwide has given birth to a more competitive environment in this sector than in the past.

Despite the financial shakeout which began in September 2008, insurance companies are still forging ahead. While many people have lost their homes and jobs, insurance is one product many people cannot live without. Whether by law or by necessity, people still have car, health, life and other types of insurance in effect. Most of the top insurance companies of the world remain financially robust, with some exceptions.

Furthermore, with more people owning vehicles, homes, and more people earning greater amounts worldwide, the need to have them insured has emerged, creating an entirely new segment for the top insurance companies of the world. This is particularly true in emerging markets such as India and China where this phenomenal grotwh has occured.

Note that the housing slump and automotive meltdown in the US have put a considerable damper on adoption of new policies there, and in Europe, but again, India and China remain strong. The big insurers in this sector, including the top insurance companies of the world have stepped forward with their strategies to adapt to the changing global landscape and markets.

In this section we cover the top insurance companies of the world, their financial positions, and international operations. Apart from each company's performance, we cover the countries' participation in the insurance business such as the total number of insurers in each country and the total amount of premiums, including life premiums and non-life premiums.