Life insurance continues to capture the savings of the French. In May 2026, net inflows reached 4 billion euros, up 0.3 billion over one year, according to the latest figures from France Assureurs. We thus have 14 billion euros in contributions against 10 billion in benefits paid to policyholders. A positive dynamic, driven mainly by unit-linked funds: they contributed 2.8 billion euros to net inflows for the month, compared to 1.2 billion for funds in euros.
Since the start of 2026, cumulative net collection amounts to 28.7 billion eurosor 7.3 billion more than the same period in 2025. The total outstanding amount of life insurance contracts is thus 2,162 billion euros at the end of May, up 5.7% over one year, or an additional 117 billion euros in twelve months. A record level, while savers continue to abandon Livret A, the rate of which has fallen sharply since February. “The collection records observed month after month in 2026 show that life insurance remains the trusted investment of the French”underlines Catherine Baudeneau, spokesperson for Altaprofits, a life insurance and financial investments broker.
The French are abandoning Livret A for life insurance
This surge is not a coincidence of timing. The Livret A rate has fallen to 1.5% since February 1, 2026, compared to 1.7% previously and 3% again at the start of 2025. Today, its yield no longer compensates for inflation, which is rising. Some savers have therefore switched their liquidity back to life insurance, which is more profitable on euro funds thanks to boosts, as well as on units of account. As a reminder, today, with online life insurance, it is possible to withdraw your money in a few days – significant flexibility for secure savings like the euro fund.
In the details of the figures for May, we can see that contributions to funds in euros increased slightly (+0.1 billion euros, or +1%), while those in units of account fell by 0.1 billion euros (-3%). Over the first five months of the year, total contributions reached 88.5 billion euros, up 10% compared to 2025, with a comparable increase between units of account (+11%) and euro funds (+9%).
An advantageous tax framework
With funds in euros which made on average 2.65% in 2025 according to the ACPRand boosts that push the 2026 yield targets above 4%, there is something to tempt savers. As a reminder, if the taxation of life insurance is 30% (12.8% income tax and 17.2% social security contributions on capital gains), it benefits from a reduction in income tax after 8 years of ownership, within the limit of 4,600 euros for a single person and 9,200 euros for couples. For example, a yield of 3% after only 17.2% taxation gives 2.48% net.
Taxation that makes life insurance even more attractive: “Its flexibility, the growing diversity of investment vehicles and its attractive tax framework make it a particularly suitable heritage tool to the needs of savers »assures Catherine Baudeneau. “It is also an essential lever for financing the major transformations of our economy, from the energy transition to the strengthening of our economic sovereignty”specifies the expert.
