Two-thirds of Britons don’t have life insurance, despite a large majority having dependants or property to protect, according to MoneySuperMarket.

It found 43% of those without life insurance have children, 38% are married and 16% have a mortgage.

The data from the price comparison site also reveals the biggest triggers for taking out life insurance. 28% took out life insurance because they bought a house, while a further 18% were motivated by the birth of a child.

On average, those that took out life insurance after they bought a property waited 11 months, while those that did it following the birth of a child waited 14 months.

The average age of someone taking out life insurance is 33, with those aged 35-44 being most likely to have a life insurance policy (46%), followed by 45-54 year-olds (43%). Younger generations, including those aged 18-24 (21%) and 25-34 (34%), are less likely to have taken out a life insurance policy, with 36% of over 55s stating that they currently have a life insurance policy.

Rachel Wait, consumer affairs spokesperson at MoneySuperMarket, said: “While we may not want to think about death, anyone who has dependents should make life insurance a priority. Our research shows that there is a delay between having children and taking out life insurance, which means your family could be left without any financial protection in the event of an unexpected death.

“Policies can be set up to pay off a mortgage and other debt, and also to provide money to meet the day-to-day financial needs of those left behind. As a result, it’s important to take the time to look for a policy that’s best suited to your needs and one that gives you peace of mind knowing that your family is protected.”