<?xml version="1.0"?>
<edgarSubmission>

    <schemaVersion>X0603</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>D</submissionType>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <primaryIssuer>
        <cik>0000937834</cik>
        <entityName>METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE CO</entityName>
        <issuerAddress>
            <street1>200 PARK AVENUE</street1>
            <city>NEW YORK</city>
            <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
            <zipCode>10166</zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerPhoneNumber>212-578-9000</issuerPhoneNumber>
        <jurisdictionOfInc>NEW YORK</jurisdictionOfInc>
        <issuerPreviousNameList>
            <value>None</value>
        </issuerPreviousNameList>
        <edgarPreviousNameList>
            <value>None</value>
        </edgarPreviousNameList>
        <entityType>Corporation</entityType>
        <yearOfInc>
            <overFiveYears>true</overFiveYears>
        </yearOfInc>
    </primaryIssuer>

    <relatedPersonsList>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>C.</firstName>
                <middleName>Robert</middleName>
                <lastName>Henrikson</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.</street1>
                <street2>1095 Avenue of the Americas</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10036</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>William</firstName>
                <middleName>J.</middleName>
                <lastName>Wheeler</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.</street1>
                <street2>1095 Avenue of the Americas</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10036</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Peter</firstName>
                <middleName>M.</middleName>
                <lastName>Carlson</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.</street1>
                <street2>1095 Avenue of the Americas</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10036</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Sylvia</firstName>
                <middleName>Mathews</middleName>
                <lastName>Burwell</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation</street1>
                <street2>1551 Eastlake Avenue East</street2>
                <city>Seattle</city>
                <stateOrCountry>WA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>98102</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Eduardo</firstName>
                <lastName>Castro-Wright</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Wal-Mart Stores</street1>
                <street2>702 Southwest 8th Street</street2>
                <city>Bentonville</city>
                <stateOrCountry>AR</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>72716</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Burton</firstName>
                <middleName>A.</middleName>
                <lastName>Dole, Jr.</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>15835 Pauma Valley Drive</street1>
                <city>Pauma Valley</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>92061</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Cheryl</firstName>
                <middleName>W.</middleName>
                <lastName>Grise</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Northeast Utilities</street1>
                <street2>24 Stratford Road</street2>
                <city>West Hartford</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CT</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>06117</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>R.</firstName>
                <middleName>Glenn</middleName>
                <lastName>Hubbard</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Uris Hall</street1>
                <street2>3022 Broadway</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10027-6902</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>John</firstName>
                <middleName>M.</middleName>
                <lastName>Keane</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Keane Advisors, LLC</street1>
                <street2>2020 K Street, N.W., Suite 300</street2>
                <city>Washington</city>
                <stateOrCountry>DC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>20006</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Alfred</firstName>
                <middleName>F.</middleName>
                <lastName>Kelly, Jr.</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>American Express Company</street1>
                <street2>200 Vesey Street</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10285</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>James</firstName>
                <middleName>M.</middleName>
                <lastName>Kilts</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Centerview Partners Management, LLC</street1>
                <street2>16 School Street</street2>
                <city>Rye</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10580</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Catherine</firstName>
                <middleName>R.</middleName>
                <lastName>Kinney</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>NYSE</street1>
                <street2>1158 5th Avenue</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10029</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Hugh</firstName>
                <middleName>B.</middleName>
                <lastName>Price</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Brookings Institution</street1>
                <street2>1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.</street2>
                <city>Washington</city>
                <stateOrCountry>DC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>20036</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>David</firstName>
                <lastName>Satcher</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Morehouse School of Medicine</street1>
                <street2>720 Westview Drive, S.W.</street2>
                <city>Atlanta</city>
                <stateOrCountry>GA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>30310-1495</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Kenton</firstName>
                <middleName>J.</middleName>
                <lastName>Sicchitano</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC</street1>
                <street2>25 Phillips Pond Road</street2>
                <city>Natick</city>
                <stateOrCountry>MA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>01760</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>William</firstName>
                <middleName>C.</middleName>
                <lastName>Steere, Jr.</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Pfizer, Inc.</street1>
                <street2>235 East 42nd Street, 22nd floor</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10017</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Lulu</firstName>
                <middleName>C.</middleName>
                <lastName>Wang</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>Tupelo Capital Management LLC</street1>
                <street2>767 3rd Avenue, 11th floor</street2>
                <city>New York</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>10017</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
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            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
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    </relatedPersonsList>

    <offeringData>
        <industryGroup>
            <industryGroupType>Insurance</industryGroupType>
        </industryGroup>
        <issuerSize>
            <revenueRange>Decline to Disclose</revenueRange>
        </issuerSize>
        <federalExemptionsExclusions>
            <item>06</item>
            <item>3C</item>
            <item>3C.1</item>
            <item>3C.7</item>
        </federalExemptionsExclusions>
        <typeOfFiling>
            <newOrAmendment>
                <isAmendment>false</isAmendment>
            </newOrAmendment>
            <dateOfFirstSale>
                <value>2006-05-26</value>
            </dateOfFirstSale>
        </typeOfFiling>
        <durationOfOffering>
            <moreThanOneYear>true</moreThanOneYear>
        </durationOfOffering>
        <typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
            <isOtherType>true</isOtherType>
            <descriptionOfOtherType>MetLife Individual Private Placement Variable Life Policy supported by MetLife Separate Account DCVL</descriptionOfOtherType>
        </typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
        <businessCombinationTransaction>
            <isBusinessCombinationTransaction>false</isBusinessCombinationTransaction>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </businessCombinationTransaction>
        <minimumInvestmentAccepted>250000</minimumInvestmentAccepted>
        <salesCompensationList>
            <recipient>
                <recipientName>Sam Jacobs</recipientName>
                <recipientCRDNumber>2557191</recipientCRDNumber>
                <associatedBDName>Manor House Capital</associatedBDName>
                <associatedBDCRDNumber>140863</associatedBDCRDNumber>
                <recipientAddress>
                    <street1>2005 Market Street, 8th floor</street1>
                    <street2>Suite 820</street2>
                    <city>Philadelphia</city>
                    <stateOrCountry>PA</stateOrCountry>
                    <zipCode>19103</zipCode>
                </recipientAddress>
                <statesOfSolicitationList>
                    <state>CA</state>
                    <state>DE</state>
                    <state>NY</state>
                    <state>PA</state>
                    <state>SD</state>
                </statesOfSolicitationList>
            </recipient>
            <recipient>
                <recipientName>Gary Block</recipientName>
                <recipientCRDNumber>1666471</recipientCRDNumber>
                <associatedBDName>MAG Financial</associatedBDName>
                <associatedBDCRDNumber>36327</associatedBDCRDNumber>
                <recipientAddress>
                    <street1>2005 Market Street, 7th floor</street1>
                    <city>Philadelphia</city>
                    <stateOrCountry>PA</stateOrCountry>
                    <zipCode>19103</zipCode>
                </recipientAddress>
                <statesOfSolicitationList>
                    <state>NY</state>
                    <state>PA</state>
                    <state>TX</state>
                    <state>VA</state>
                </statesOfSolicitationList>
            </recipient>
        </salesCompensationList>
        <offeringSalesAmounts>
            <totalOfferingAmount>Indefinite</totalOfferingAmount>
            <totalAmountSold>1200000</totalAmountSold>
            <totalRemaining>Indefinite</totalRemaining>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </offeringSalesAmounts>
        <investors>
            <hasNonAccreditedInvestors>false</hasNonAccreditedInvestors>
            <totalNumberAlreadyInvested>1</totalNumberAlreadyInvested>
        </investors>
        <salesCommissionsFindersFees>
            <salesCommissions>
                <dollarAmount>8088</dollarAmount>
            </salesCommissions>
            <findersFees>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </findersFees>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </salesCommissionsFindersFees>
        <useOfProceeds>
            <grossProceedsUsed>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </grossProceedsUsed>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </useOfProceeds>
        <signatureBlock>
            <authorizedRepresentative>false</authorizedRepresentative>
            <signature>
                <issuerName>METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE CO</issuerName>
                <signatureName>/s/ Michael Rogalski</signatureName>
                <nameOfSigner>Michael Rogalski</nameOfSigner>
                <signatureTitle>Vice President</signatureTitle>
                <signatureDate>2010-01-08</signatureDate>
            </signature>
        </signatureBlock>
    </offeringData>
</edgarSubmission>
