The Scottish Widows Consumer Protection report details research carried out on 5,148 UK adults and showed a divide north and south of the border.
On average 54% of Scots have life insurance cover, 15% have critical illness cover and 8% have income protection.
The UK average for adults with critical illness cover is 12% and the uptake of income protection is at 7%.
The lowest up-take of life insurance and income protection was found to be in the South and South East including London. Wales had the lowest up-take of CI at 10%.
Clive Allison, market director for protection at Scottish Widows, said: “Whilst the research shows a low take-up of life insurance, critical illness and income protection products in general across the UK, including north of the border, it is interesting to see individuals in Scotland seem to be more inclined to protect themselves and their families than other regions in the UK.
"If we single out life insurance, the awareness among individuals is far higher than critical illness and income protection, partly due to the product being offered when individuals purchase a home. And if we look at the vast difference of take up of life insurance in Scotland compared to other parts of the UK, especially the South and South East, we can put much of this down to the fact that more Scots own their own home compared to say, London where more people will be renting.
“However it cannot be underestimated how important it is for people to have protection in place to protect their rent if the unexpected were to happen."
