| Mio. CHF | Notes | 2017 | 2016 |
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | | | |
| Premiums, policy fees and deposits received, net of reinsurance | | 15 522 | 15 380 |
| Benefits and claims paid, net of reinsurance | | –13 413 | –13 157 |
| Interest received | | 3 274 | 3 339 |
| Dividends received | | 484 | 504 |
| Commissions received | | 1 067 | 1 108 |
| Rentals received | | 1 041 | 941 |
| Interest paid | | –23 | –28 |
| Commissions, employee benefit and other payments | | –2 600 | –2 874 |
| Net cash flows from | | | |
| derivatives | | –1 184 | 444 |
| financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss | | –879 | –869 |
| financial assets available for sale | | –1 696 | –2 370 |
| loans | | 1 817 | 496 |
| investment property | | –3 222 | –1 553 |
| deposits | | 180 | 1 260 |
| other operating assets and liabilities | | 70 | –564 |
| Income taxes paid | | –196 | –213 |
| TOTAL NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | | 244 | 1 846 |
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | |
| Purchases of investments in associates | | –3 | –26 |
| Sales of investments in associates | | – | 1 |
| Dividends received from associates | | 4 | 1 |
| Purchases of property and equipment | | –31 | –19 |
| Sales of property and equipment | | 5 | 3 |
| Purchases of computer software and other intangible assets | | –14 | –14 |
| Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash and cash equivalents | 28 | –16 | –17 |
| Disposals of subsidiaries, net of cash and cash equivalents | 28 | 101 | – |
| TOTAL NET CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | 47 | –69 |
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | |
| Issuance of debt instruments | | – | 1 240 |
| Repurchase of debt instruments | 20 | –1 | – |
| Redemption of debt instruments | 20 | –631 | –502 |
| Distribution out of capital contribution reserve | | –356 | –271 |
| Sales of treasury shares | | 0 | 0 |
| Purchases of non-controlling interests | | – | –2 |
| Reduction in capital relating to non-controlling interests | | –2 | – |
| Borrowing costs paid | | –159 | –155 |
| Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | | –3 | –1 |
| TOTAL NET CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | –1 151 | 310 |
| | | | |
| TOTAL CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | | –860 | 2 087 |
| | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents as at 1 January | | 7 333 | 5 296 |
| Classification as assets held for sale | | 0 | – |
| Foreign currency differences | | 138 | –49 |
| Total change in cash and cash equivalents | | –860 | 2 087 |
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AS AT END OF PERIOD | | 6 611 | 7 333 |
| COMPONENTS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | | | |
| Cash on hand and demand deposits | | 3 703 | 4 758 |
| Cash equivalents | | 79 | 86 |
| Cash and cash equivalents for the account and risk of the Swiss Life Group’s customers | | 2 829 | 2 489 |
| TOTAL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AS AT END OF PERIOD | | 6 611 | 7 333 |
