<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<edgarSubmission xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ncen">
  <schemaVersion>X0404</schemaVersion>
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>N-CEN</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0000869799</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <flags>
        <confirmingCopyFlag>false</confirmingCopyFlag>
      </flags>
      <investmentCompanyType>N-6</investmentCompanyType>
    </filerInfo>
    <seriesClass>
      <reportClass>
        <classInfo>
          <classId>C000214652</classId>
        </classInfo>
        <classInfo>
          <classId>C000214650</classId>
        </classInfo>
        <classInfo>
          <classId>C000214648</classId>
        </classInfo>
        <classInfo>
          <classId>C000214646</classId>
        </classInfo>
        <classInfo>
          <classId>C000214644</classId>
        </classInfo>
      </reportClass>
    </seriesClass>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <generalInfo reportEndingPeriod="2021-12-31" isReportPeriodLt12="N"/>
    <registrantInfo>
      <registrantFullName>MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT</registrantFullName>
      <investmentCompFileNo>811-06225</investmentCompFileNo>
      <registrantCik>0000869799</registrantCik>
      <registrantLei>549300OBIN8MX7VADY54</registrantLei>
      <registrantstreet1>6400 C Street SW</registrantstreet1>
      <registrantcity>Cedar Rapids</registrantcity>
      <registrantzipCode>52499</registrantzipCode>
      <registrantstate>US-IA</registrantstate>
      <registrantcountry>US</registrantcountry>
      <registrantphoneNumber>8003463677</registrantphoneNumber>
      <websites>
        <website webpage="N/A"/>
      </websites>
      <locationBooksRecords>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Transamerica Life Insurance Company</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>6400 C Street SW</officeAddress1>
          <officeCity>Cedar Rapids</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-IA" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>52499</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>8003463677</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investments Company Act of 1940 and Rules 31a-1 to 31a-3 promulgated thereunder</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
      </locationBooksRecords>
      <isRegistrantFirstFiling>N</isRegistrantFirstFiling>
      <isRegistrantLastFiling>N</isRegistrantLastFiling>
      <registrantFamilyInvComp isRegistrantFamilyInvComp="Y" familyInvCompFullName="Transamerica Life Insurance Company"/>
      <registrantClassificationType>N-6</registrantClassificationType>
      <isSecuritiesActRegistration>Y</isSecuritiesActRegistration>
      <chiefComplianceOfficers>
        <chiefComplianceOfficer>
          <ccoName>Kristine Lynn Wright</ccoName>
          <crdNumber>002701204</crdNumber>
          <ccoStreet1>6400 C Street SW</ccoStreet1>
          <ccoCity>Cedar Rapids</ccoCity>
          <ccoStateCountry ccoState="US-IA" ccoCountry="US"/>
          <ccoZipCode>52499</ccoZipCode>
          <ccoPhone>XXXXXX</ccoPhone>
          <isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>N</isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>
          <ccoEmployers>
            <ccoEmployer ccoEmployerName="N/A" ccoEmployerId="N/A"/>
          </ccoEmployers>
        </chiefComplianceOfficer>
      </chiefComplianceOfficers>
      <isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>N</isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>
      <isPreviousLegalProceeding>N</isPreviousLegalProceeding>
      <isPreviousProceedingTerminated>N</isPreviousProceedingTerminated>
      <isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>N</isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>
      <isExemptionFromAct>N</isExemptionFromAct>
      <principalUnderwriters>
        <principalUnderwriter>
          <principalUnderwriterName>Transamerica Capital, Inc.</principalUnderwriterName>
          <principalUnderwriterFileNumber>8-24829</principalUnderwriterFileNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>000008217</principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterLei>N/A</principalUnderwriterLei>
          <principalUnderWriterStateCountry principalUnderWriterState="US-CA" principalUnderWriterCountry="US"/>
          <isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>Y</isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>
        </principalUnderwriter>
      </principalUnderwriters>
      <isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>N</isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>
      <publicAccountants>
        <publicAccountant>
          <publicAccountantName>PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</publicAccountantName>
          <pcaobNumber>00238</pcaobNumber>
          <publicAccountantLei>N/A</publicAccountantLei>
          <publicAccountantStateCountry publicAccountantState="US-NY" publicAccountantCountry="US"/>
        </publicAccountant>
      </publicAccountants>
      <isPublicAccountantChanged>N</isPublicAccountantChanged>
      <isOpinionOffered>N</isOpinionOffered>
      <isMaterialChange>N</isMaterialChange>
      <isAccountingPrincipleChange>N</isAccountingPrincipleChange>
    </registrantInfo>
    <unitInvestmentTrust>
      <depositors>
        <depositor>
          <depositorName>Transamerica Life Insurance Company</depositorName>
          <depositorCrdNo>N/A</depositorCrdNo>
          <depositorLei>IESWU3ORVB7T21TZOK62</depositorLei>
          <depositorStateCountry depositorState="US-IA" depositorCountry="US"/>
          <depositorUltimateParentname>Aegon N.V.</depositorUltimateParentname>
        </depositor>
      </depositors>
      <uitAdmins>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>Transamerica Life Insurance Company</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>IESWU3ORVB7T21TZOK62</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-IA" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>Y</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>N</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
      </uitAdmins>
      <isUitAdminHiredTerminated>N</isUitAdminHiredTerminated>
      <registrantSeparateInsuranceAccount isRegistrantSeparateInsuranceAccount="Y" separateAccountSeriesId="S000011547"/>
      <numOfContracts>1850</numOfContracts>
      <contractSecurities>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="MLLIC Investor Life" separateAccountContractId="C000214652" separateAccountTotalAsset="86530209.960000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="12000.000000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="8285080.650000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="MLLIC Investor Life Plus" separateAccountContractId="C000214650" separateAccountTotalAsset="59828667.050000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="90750.730000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="1870299.930000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="326727.880000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="2"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="MLLIC Estate Investor I" separateAccountContractId="C000214648" separateAccountTotalAsset="28498396.590000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="1360468.400000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="4769746.420000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="133609.990000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="MLLIC Estate Investor II" separateAccountContractId="C000214646" separateAccountTotalAsset="109874389.870000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="3485364.180000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="8349597.840000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="127829.430000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="MLLIC Legacy Power" separateAccountContractId="C000214644" separateAccountTotalAsset="4799328.400000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="0.000000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="886518.640000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
      </contractSecurities>
      <isRule6C7Reliance>Y</isRule6C7Reliance>
      <isRule11A2Reliance>N</isRule11A2Reliance>
      <isRule12D1Dash4Reliance>N</isRule12D1Dash4Reliance>
      <isRule12D1GReliance>N</isRule12D1GReliance>
    </unitInvestmentTrust>
    <signature registrantSignedName="MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT" signedDate="2022-03-14" signature="/s/ Fred Gingerich" title="Controller"/>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
