Aviva plc, the London-based parent company of Aviva USA, this morning reported third-quarter worldwide revenues of £35.9 billion, ($55.3 billion), a 5 percent increase from the third quarter of 2009.

West Des Moines-based Aviva USA’s life and pension sales were $5.6 billion, a 2 percent decrease from a year earlier.

Aviva USA “had an outstanding third quarter with strong growth in our life insurance business,” Chris Littlefield, president and CEO of Aviva USA, said in a press release. “We are committed to accelerating the sales of life insurance products and maintaining profitable growth in annuities throughout the U.S. We also continue to build Aviva’s brand awareness nationwide to ensure customers are aware of our ability to meet their long-term financial needs.”