Income was dampened by the financial insecurity generated by the coronavirus that affected life insurance, as well as lockdowns that limited demand for car insurance.

The small rise compared with a 7% increase in 2019.

"So far we have come through this difficult coronavirus year relatively unscathed," said GDV chief Joerg Asmussen.

(Reporting by Klaus Lauer; Writing by Tom Sims; Editing by Caroline Copley)