China's pet insurance market grows 60-fold in five years

(ECNS) -- China’s pet insurance premiums surged from about 50 million yuan ($7.4 million) in 2020 to as much as 3.5 billion yuan in 2025, a 60fold increase, industry data showed.

The expansion comes amid a growing pet economy. China’s urban dog and cat consumer market reached 312.6 billion yuan in 2025.

But growth has brought disputes. More than 1,000 complaints have been filed over waiting periods, exclusions and preexisting conditions. Insurers also struggle with inconsistent veterinary fees and fraud cases involving altered treatment dates or multiple pets under one policy.

Efforts to standardize the sector are underway. A national standard on diagnosis and treatment services at pet medical institutions took effect in August 2025, while some insurers are working with universities and veterinary institutions to improve treatment standards.

(By Intern Yang Hongran, Zhang Dongfang)