Last year saw a return to 'normal growth' for non-life insurers after a period of stagnation, according to analysis by Swiss Re.
The reinsurance giant picked out premium increases in the UK as one of the factors driving worldwide growth in the industry.
But it added in its worldwide review of the year that growth in the US, Japan, Germany and France were considerably lower.
It reported: "The earnings reported by the insurance industry remained lacklustre despite their registering comparatively few major losses in 2000.
"The combined ratio (costs plus losses divided by premiums) - the most important gauge of profitability in the insurance underwriting business - remained at a high 109% in western Europe and even increased to 110% in the US".
