Legal insurance statistics, facts & trends (2026)
Litigation isn’t slowing down. It’s scaling up.
Courts in the United States handle more than 66 million cases every year.
In Germany, civil lawsuits reached 1.19 per 100 residents in 2022, marking a steady rise in disputes across Europe. That surge is pushing global legal service spending toward $1 billion in 2024.
With more people facing potential legal costs, legal insurance is becoming a practical safety net.
But how much are households actually spending? And how fast is this market growing?
The numbers below reveal how quickly protection is becoming a financial essential.
Key Legal Insurance Statistics – Top Picks
- The global legal insurance market is worth $76.31 billion.
- Europe represents 22% of that market.
- Germany accounts for 33.5% of Europe’s legal insurance segment.
- Germans held roughly 27 million active legal insurance contracts in 2023.
- 70% of higher-income households have coverage, compared to 38% among lower-income households.
- Legal insurance claims in Germany totaled €3.14 billion in 2024.
- In 2022, 1.77 civil and administrative cases were filed per 100 residents in Germany.
How big is the global legal insurance market?
In 2025, the global market reached $76.31 billion, or about $9.77 per person. By 2029, it’s expected to hit $80.87 billion, a 5.8% increase that signals stable, long-term growth rather than short-lived hype.
The United States remains the largest contributor, representing $30.9 billion of global market value in 2025. Europe, meanwhile, continues to strengthen its position as adoption grows across Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
Source: Statista
How big is Europe’s legal insurance market?
Europe is the second largest legal insurance market after the United States. In 2025, European legal insurance policies are worth an estimated $16.79 billion or $19.89 per capita. That equals a 22% share of the global market.
By 2029, the market is expected to grow by 3.75% to $17.42 billion.
Germany makes up the largest share of the continent’s market. In 2025, Germany’s legal insurance market is valued at $5.6 billion, 33.5% of the continent’s market share.
France represents 16.1% of the continent’s market with an estimated value of $2.7 billion in 2025.
Source: Statista, Statista, Statista
How popular is legal insurance in Germany?
Legal insurance is widely used in Germany. In 2010, approximately half of German adults had legal insurance. By 2022, this had risen to 59%.
In 2023, Germans had an estimated 27 million active legal insurance contracts.
Source: AssCompact, GermanPedia
Which groups are most likely to buy legal insurance?
Higher-income households are the most likely buyers. In Germany, 70% of higher-income households have legal protection. The rate is 58% for middle-income households and 34% for lower-income households.
Source: AssCompact
How much does legal insurance typically cost?
In Germany, a legal insurance tariff typically costs between €162 and €425 per year (€13.51 and €35.44 per month) for a basic plan.
In France, standalone legal insurance is less common than in Germany. There are fewer policies and they’re usually less expensive. The average price for a basic legal protection plan is roughly €76 per year (€6 per month). For more comprehensive plans, this average increases to €250 per year.
How often do people file legal insurance claims?
In Germany, the average person with legal insurance will submit 2.5 claims over the course of their policy.
56.4% of these claims are for the cost of booking a consultation with a lawyer, with the remaining 43.6% covering the cost of legal expenses.
In 2023, €3 billion in legal insurance claims were filed in Germany. This rose to €3.14 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach €3.32 billion by 2028.
Source: Feather, Report Linker
How many legal cases and lawsuits are filed annually?
Litigation is becoming part of everyday life. In the United States, courts handle more than 66 million cases annually—most of them civil. In 2022, 57% were traffic-related, 20% came from community and business disputes, and about 17% were criminal. Yet even among criminal cases, fewer than 5% involved serious or felony crimes.
Across Europe, the story varies but follows the same trend—more cases, especially outside criminal law. In Germany, 1.77 civil and administrative cases per 100 residents were filed in 2022, compared with 2.17 per 100 in 2020. Criminal filings also dropped, from 1.43 to 1.28 cases per 100 residents in the same period.
France moved in the opposite direction. Civil and administrative cases rose from 1.9 to 2.33 per 100 residents between 2020 and 2022—a 22% increase. Criminal cases ticked up slightly, from 1.43 to 1.44 per 100 residents over that period.
Source: Pew Research Centre, Council of Europe
How much does it cost to be involved in a lawsuit?
In the United States, the average divorce costs between $15,000 and $20,000 once lawyer and court fees are included. Defending an employment lawsuit typically costs around $75,000 if settled before court, and more than $125,000 in pre-trial expenses if it proceeds further.
Germany’s legal costs depend on how much money is at stake, since court and lawyer fees scale with the disputed amount. For a €10,000 case, expect roughly €798 in court fees, €1,850.45 for your lawyer, and another €1,850.45 for the opposing side’s counsel. Appealing the case adds about €1,064.
Because Germany applies a “loser pays” rule, the financial risk is clear: losing a €10,000 case could cost €4,498.9 without appeal or €5,562.9 if you do appeal.
Source: Forbes, Novian & Novian LLP, DLA Piper,
