China Life Insurance Co, the nation's biggest insurer, said on Monday it collected insurance premiums of 170.1 billion yuan ($22.91 billion) in the first 10 months of this year.

The result was not audited and was compiled under Chinese accounting standards, the company said in a statement. It gave no comparative figures.

Insurance income accounts for the lion's share of China Life's revenues as the country's growing wealth has led more people to buy policies. The company also earns investment and interest income.

Last month, the company said it collected insurance premium income of 158.6 billion yuan in the first nine months of this year.

The company's 2006 premium income rose to 183.8 billion yuan last year, compared with 160.9 billion yuan in 2005. ($1=7.423 Yuan)