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Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Brendan McErlaine Brendan McErlaine New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 52421CA

Revenue

$10.4bn

2024

$10.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

43,487

Businesses

22,814

Wages

$X.Xbn

Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada industry analysis

Revenue for insurance brokers and agencies in Canada has experienced considerable fluctuations over the past few years, primarily influenced by economic conditions driven by COVID-19 and shifting interest rates. While the pandemic initially stalled consumer spending and private investment, it triggered a surge in personal property and casualty (P&C) insurance as buyers took advantage of record-low interest rates to purchase homes. Though the immediate aftermath of the pandemic saw a temporary revenue dip with declines in disposable income, the swift recovery fuelled a renewed growth trajectory. The industry’s performance in 2023 remained robust despite the ongoing disruption in the housing market caused by rising interest rates, hinting at resilient underlying demand and strategic adaptability. Overall, revenue for insurance brokers and agencies in Canada is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 2.2% during the current period, reaching CA$10.4 billion in 2024. This includes a 1.4% rise in revenue in that year.

Trends and Insights

  • Economic fluctuations in Canada, driven by COVID-19, rising interest rates and recessionary fears, have significantly influenced demand for insurance services. Overall revenue has shown resilience and growth, mainly since GDP and consumer spending have grown following the pandemic.
  • Demand for commercial and personal property & casualty (P&C) insurance has surged over the past few years. This is primarily because individuals are seeking protection from increasing severe weather events, while businesses are more aware of liability risks and are bolstering their coverage.
  • Ontario's large population fuels the insurance industry. With the nation's highest number of insurance brokers and agencies, companies flock there to tap into this vast market.
  • Setting up a distribution network with significant retail presence demands heavy financial investment. These substantial start-up costs can deter new entrants from entering the market.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $10.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Economic conditions have influenced the industry's performance

  • Canada's GDP has fluctuated as a result of COVID-19, the associated recovery, rising interest rates and recessionary fears. These shifts have influenced demand for the industry's services.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Stable economic growth will provide new revenue streams for insurance brokers and agencies

  • As disruptions related to high interest rates and recessionary fears cease, Canada's GDP is anticipated to climb steadily during the outlook period. This will raise per capita disposable income and consumer spending, boosting demand for annuities and other insurance products from households.

Biggest companies in the Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Arthur J. Gallagher and Company
600.3
95.3
15.9
Aon PLC
429.7
115.0
26.8
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.
292.6
75.5
25.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Commercial P&C Insurance, Personal P&C insurance and Life and health insurance. Commercial P&C Insurance is the largest segment of the Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Demand for commercial P&C insurance has increased

  • Commercial and personal property & casualty (P&C) insurance provides coverage for property and liability losses for businesses and individuals, respectively.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Insurance Brokers and Agencies industry in Canada includes individuals and businesses that primarily act as agents or brokers in selling annuities and insurance policies. Providers earn commission income, mostly as a percentage of the premium of insurance policies sold. Companies also earn fee income for providing risk management and other value-added services.

What's included in this industry?

Property and casualty insurance policy brokerageHealth and medical insurance brokerageLife and accident insurance brokerageReinsurance brokerage and administrationAnnuity brokerageRisk management consulting

Companies

Arthur J. Gallagher and CompanyAon PLCMarsh & McLennan Companies Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

INSURANCE BROKERINSURANCE AGENTHARD MARKETSOFT MARKETCOMBINED RATIO

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 524210 - Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Economic fluctuations in Canada, driven by COVID-19, rising interest rates and recessionary fears, have significantly influenced demand for insurance services. Overall revenu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand for commercial and personal property & casualty (P&C) insurance has surged over the past few years. This is primarily because individuals are seeking protection from i...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario's large population fuels the insurance industry. With the nation's highest number of insurance brokers and agencies, companies flock there to tap into this vast marke...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Setting up a distribution network with significant retail presence demands heavy financial investment. These substantial start-up costs can deter new entrants from entering t...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Arthur J. Gallagher has increased its market share through mergers and acquisitions. By acquiring other companies, Gallagher has been able to expand its geographical footprin...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Arthur J. Gallagher and Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Aon PLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Arthur J. Gallagher and Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Aon PLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Each province in Canada has its own insurance regulator responsible for the licensing and supervision of brokers and agencies. These provincial regulators form part of the Ca...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit for Canadian insurance brokers and agencies typically accounts for less than 5.0% of revenue because of high administrative and wage costs. Although profit dipped duri...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada is $10.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 22,814 businesses in the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Insurance Brokers & Agencies market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Insurance Brokers & Agencies market in Canada are Arthur J. Gallagher and Company, Aon PLC and Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.

What does the Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada include?

Property and casualty insurance policy brokerage and Health and medical insurance brokerage are part of the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Insurance Brokers & Agencies in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Arthur J. Gallagher and Company.

How competitive is the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Insurance Brokers & Agencies industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.