Sweden has one of the highest rates of pet insurance in the world, and it isn't a niche habit — it's close to the cultural default. A 2026 survey by Novus, commissioned by the insurer Agria together with the Swedish Kennel Club (Svenska Kennelklubben), of over 10,000 dog and cat owners found more than 90% of dogs in Sweden are insured, a level that's been stable in recent years, with cat insurance also climbing to 65%.

Agria itself originated in Sweden and now operates pet insurance across several other European countries, including Denmark, Norway, Finland, the UK, France, Germany and Ireland, but the uptake rate at home remains unusually high even by Nordic standards. Part of the reason is practical rather than cultural: Swedish veterinary care, like most of Scandinavia, is paid for directly at the time of treatment, and a serious emergency can be expensive without cover.

For a visiting owner, the practical takeaway is to check your own pet insurance covers veterinary treatment abroad in Sweden specifically, including emergency care, before you travel — Swedish vets will expect payment at the time of treatment regardless of your own country's usual billing arrangement, and a policy that doesn't travel with you leaves the full cost on the day.