Insurance industry is a relatively young area of economic activity, which evolved into an independent branch of economy during the period of developed capitalism. In the 18th century, the insurance industry still performed its activities with great elements of risk or on the basis of mutual assistance and philanthropy. Big insurance companies were first founded in the 19th century, when insurance industry started an international network and a reinsurance system was created. Until the Second World War, there were only three large insurance companies in Slovenia: Slovenija (1872-85), Vzajemna (1900-45) and Slavija (1922-46). The most important insurance companies in the period of socialism were Doz (1946-61), Zavarovalna skupnost Slovenije with its 14 regional insurance companies (1961-67), Zavarovalnica Sava (1967-76) and Zavarovalna skupnost Triglav (1976-90). In addition to the basic insurances, all big insurance companies were building systems of voluntary life insurances. Compulsory social insurance developed together with the insurance industry. In the period of economic liberalism, wage policy with no protection of the workers' rights was adhered to. The society dealt with these problems by means of charity and collective self-help. Medical and support societies for workers were established. This period lasted until the 1880's, when compulsory social security for workers was introduced in 1888. Not all workers enjoyed the same rights, benefits and protection. State employees, mining and metallurgy workers, those employed at state railways and some other state institutions were granted retirement income and health insurance, whereas the workers in industry or trade only had sickness and accident insurances. Social insurance was based on the provisions of the Workers Insurance Act from 1922 until the end of 1946, when a new Workers and Employees Insurance Act was adopted. This Act provided uniform social insurance for all employees. The Farmers' Health Insurance Act was adopted in 1959. In 1966 the workers' and farmers' insurance companies merged, together with a tradesmen's insurance company, which existed already in 1954. When old age insurance for farmers was introduced in 1972 and compulsory pension and disability insurance followed in 1984 within the same insurance company, the social insurance became uniform for nearly all citizens. The number ofactive insured persons grew rapidlyfrom 126,000 in 1946 to almost 888,000 in 1988; in the 1990's, however, the number dropped below 700,000.