One in four young adults in the UK say they are now more likely to take out life insurance in response to growing global instability fuelled by Donald Trump, new research reveals.

A survey conducted by Opinium found that 24% of 18–34-year-olds would be more inclined to consider life cover due to heightened international tensions, particularly those involving the US president and Russia.

The study, commissioned by Carr Consulting & Communications, asked a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults: “Thinking about the current global climate, have recent events involving Donald Trump and Russia made you more or less likely to take out life insurance?”

GEOPOLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

While the overall figures across all age groups showed a more muted reaction, younger respondents appeared especially sensitive to geopolitical developments.

The polling was carried out between the 20th and 28th of March — before Trump’s announcement of his global tariff policy and meaning the number of young people considering life insurance could be even higher.

The findings come at a time when the insurance industry is already experiencing a surge in demand for protection products, driven by lingering anxieties from the pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis that has made financial planning more urgent for many households.

ANXIETY

Mark Townsend, chief executive at life insurance broker Reassured, said: “In times of political and economic uncertainty it potentially causes anxiety among younger people, as a result they often turn to life insurance to protect their families and loved ones to provide peace of mind.

“We have seen a 20% increase in life insurance policy sales so far this year, which reflects both increased demand from customers of all ages as well as increased capacity among our customer teams.

“When looking for a suitable life insurance product, customers should look to cover their main debts such as their mortgage, credit cards and any other outgoings.

“This will help ensure they have the appropriate level of cover in place for their family. Buying life insurance when you’re younger can help to ensure you achieve the lowest premium possible.”

GLOBAL INSECURITY

And Ryan Griffin, director of Protection at Beagle Street and OneFamily, added: “The increase in global insecurity impacts all of us.

“The fact that the biggest shift in thinking comes from younger people may seem surprising as it is usually parents and homebuyers that focus on life insurance. However, we are perhaps beginning to see a more cautious generation when it comes to protecting our finances and lifestyles.”

MORE CAUTIOUS

Kevin Carr, managing director of Carr Consulting & Communications, said: “When situations arise that threaten our way of life, be it financial crashes, global pandemics, job losses or economic insecurity we tend to become more cautious.

“I hear protection sales are mostly up in Q1, and we wondered why. The mortgage market is busy, especially with remortgages, but that tends to have the opposite impact on protection sales. This research shows that the younger generation is concerned about what is happening around the world.”