<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ncen" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>N-CEN</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0000789535</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
        <fileNumber>811-04585</fileNumber>
      </filer>
      <flags>
        <returnCopyFlag>false</returnCopyFlag>
        <overrideInternetFlag>false</overrideInternetFlag>
        <confirmingCopyFlag>false</confirmingCopyFlag>
      </flags>
      <investmentCompanyType>N-6</investmentCompanyType>
    </filerInfo>
    <seriesClass>
      <reportClass>
        <rptIncludeAllClassesFlag>true</rptIncludeAllClassesFlag>
      </reportClass>
    </seriesClass>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <generalInfo reportEndingPeriod="2019-12-31" isReportPeriodLt12="N"/>
    <registrantInfo>
      <registrantFullName>MINNESOTA LIFE VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT</registrantFullName>
      <investmentCompFileNo>811-04585</investmentCompFileNo>
      <registrantCik>0000789535</registrantCik>
      <registrantLei>00000000000000000000</registrantLei>
      <registrantstreet1>400 N ROBERT ST</registrantstreet1>
      <registrantcity>ST PAUL</registrantcity>
      <registrantzipCode>55101-2098</registrantzipCode>
      <registrantstate>US-MN</registrantstate>
      <registrantcountry>US</registrantcountry>
      <registrantphoneNumber>651-665-3500</registrantphoneNumber>
      <websites>
        <website webpage="www.securian.com"/>
      </websites>
      <locationBooksRecords>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>State Street Bank and Trust Company</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>1 Lincoln Street</officeAddress1>
          <officeCity>Boston</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeCountry="US" officeState="US-MA"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>02111</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>617-786-3000</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Custody and Accounting Records.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
      </locationBooksRecords>
      <isRegistrantFirstFiling>N</isRegistrantFirstFiling>
      <isRegistrantLastFiling>N</isRegistrantLastFiling>
      <isRegistrantFamilyInvComp>N</isRegistrantFamilyInvComp>
      <registrantClassificationType>N-6</registrantClassificationType>
      <isSecuritiesActRegistration>Y</isSecuritiesActRegistration>
      <chiefComplianceOfficers>
        <chiefComplianceOfficer>
          <ccoName>Erich Axmacher</ccoName>
          <crdNumber>000000000</crdNumber>
          <ccoStreet1>400 Robert Street North</ccoStreet1>
          <ccoCity>St. Paul</ccoCity>
          <ccoStateCountry ccoCountry="US" ccoState="US-MN"/>
          <ccoZipCode>55101</ccoZipCode>
          <ccoPhone>XXXXXX</ccoPhone>
          <isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>Y</isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>
          <ccoEmployers>
            <ccoEmployer ccoEmployerName="N/A" ccoEmployerId="N/A"/>
          </ccoEmployers>
        </chiefComplianceOfficer>
      </chiefComplianceOfficers>
      <isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>N</isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>
      <isPreviousLegalProceeding>N</isPreviousLegalProceeding>
      <isPreviousProceedingTerminated>N</isPreviousProceedingTerminated>
      <isClaimFiled>N</isClaimFiled>
      <coveredByInsurancePolicy isCoveredByInsurancePolicy="Y" isClaimFiledDuringPeriod="N"/>
      <isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>N</isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>
      <releaseNumbers isExemptionFromAct="Y">
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-21352"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-16942"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-32419"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-22124"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-17253"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-25793"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-15523"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-30850"/>
        <releaseNumberInfo releaseNumber="IC-31028"/>
      </releaseNumbers>
      <principalUnderwriters>
        <principalUnderwriter>
          <principalUnderwriterName>Securian Financial Services, Inc.</principalUnderwriterName>
          <principalUnderwriterFileNumber>8-31955</principalUnderwriterFileNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>000015296</principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterLei>00000000000000000000</principalUnderwriterLei>
          <principalUnderWriterStateCountry principalUnderWriterCountry="US" principalUnderWriterState="US-MN"/>
          <isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>Y</isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>
        </principalUnderwriter>
      </principalUnderwriters>
      <isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>N</isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>
      <publicAccountants>
        <publicAccountant>
          <publicAccountantName>KPMG LLP</publicAccountantName>
          <pcaobNumber>185</pcaobNumber>
          <publicAccountantLei>5493003PVCIGA21K0K42</publicAccountantLei>
          <publicAccountantStateCountry publicAccountantCountry="US" publicAccountantState="US-NJ"/>
        </publicAccountant>
      </publicAccountants>
      <isPublicAccountantChanged>N</isPublicAccountantChanged>
      <isOpinionOffered>N</isOpinionOffered>
      <isMaterialChange>N</isMaterialChange>
      <isAccountingPrincipleChange>N</isAccountingPrincipleChange>
    </registrantInfo>
    <unitInvestmentTrust>
      <depositors>
        <depositor>
          <depositorName>Minnesota Life Insurance Company</depositorName>
          <depositorCrdNo>000002797</depositorCrdNo>
          <depositorLei>9KZ0AU45N94Q59NRQD91</depositorLei>
          <depositorStateCountry depositorCountry="US" depositorState="US-MN"/>
          <depositorUltimateParentname>Minnesota Mutual Companies, Inc.</depositorUltimateParentname>
        </depositor>
      </depositors>
      <uitAdmins>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>State Street Bank and Trust Company</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>571474TGEMMWANRLN572</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-MA" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>N</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>N</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
      </uitAdmins>
      <isUitAdminHiredTerminated>N</isUitAdminHiredTerminated>
      <registrantSeparateInsuranceAccount isRegistrantSeparateInsuranceAccount="Y" separateAccountSeriesId="S000001669"/>
      <numOfContracts>44877</numOfContracts>
      <contractSecurities>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="333-96383 Variable Adjustable Life - Horizon" separateAccountContractId="C000004526" separateAccountTotalAsset="704972928" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="49561063" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="57742741" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="33-64395 Variable Adjustable Life - Second Death" separateAccountContractId="C000004525" separateAccountTotalAsset="238204396" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="8541930" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="20237455" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="33-3233 Variable Adjustable Life" separateAccountContractId="C000004524" separateAccountTotalAsset="1301334927" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="50191467" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="89353717" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="333-120704 Variable Adjustable Life - Survivor" separateAccountContractId="C000004528" separateAccountTotalAsset="76480375" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="9476761" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="3474575" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="333-109853 Variable Adjustable Life - Summit" separateAccountContractId="C000004527" separateAccountTotalAsset="169848164" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="14826868" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="10146891" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
      </contractSecurities>
      <isRule6C7Reliance>N</isRule6C7Reliance>
      <isRule11A2Reliance>N</isRule11A2Reliance>
    </unitInvestmentTrust>
    <signature registrantSignedName="MINNESOTA LIFE VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT" signedDate="2020-03-05" signature="Daniel Wirig" title="Manager, Fund Accounting"/>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
