News · Healthcare · Published 10 July 2026
Summer months account for 35% of Sweden’s injury-related sick leave cases
Försäkringskassan says physical injuries rise as people take on activities such as trampoline use, mountain hiking and home projects during the warmer months.
DailySweden Editorial Desk
Updated 23:40 · 3 min read
Listen to this articleNarrated - 9:12
More than a third of Sweden’s injury-related sick-leave cases begin between May and August, even though the total number of new sickness cases falls during the summer, according to Försäkringskassan.
The agency said physical injuries leading to time away from work become more common as people take part in seasonal activities such as using trampolines, hiking in the mountains and building or repairing outdoor areas at home.
Across all diagnoses, just over half a million sickness cases begin each year. Mental-health conditions and musculoskeletal illnesses, including back pain, are the most common diagnostic groups.
Försäkringskassan says physical injuries rise as people take on activities such as trampoline use, mountain hiking and home projects during the warmer months.
The overall pattern drops sharply during the summer. In July, the number of new sickness cases is half the level recorded in January, the month when the highest number begins.
Healthcare essentials
Injury cases move differently. Försäkringskassan said 35% of all sickness cases caused by injuries, including broken arms and legs, start during the four-month period from May to August.
Almost 60,000 injury-related cases begin each year. In 2025, they resulted in 4.4 million compensated sick days and SEK 3.7 billion in sickness-benefit spending, according to the agency’s figures.
What happens now
Försäkringskassan analyst Ulrik Lidwall said the summer increase probably reflects people being more active outdoors and attempting activities during their holidays that they do not normally do. The agency’s statistics indicate that some people overestimate what they can manage and are injured as a result.
Employees who are ill can apply to Försäkringskassan for sickness benefit after two weeks. Before that point, sick pay is provided by the employer.
The seasonal increase is not limited to summer. Injury cases also rise during the winter months, a pattern that the agency said can be partly linked to accidents caused by snow and ice.
Försäkringskassan based its analysis on statistics for new sickness cases by diagnosis chapter and payments of sickness and rehabilitation benefits by diagnosis.
The figures show a contrasting summer picture: fewer people begin sick leave overall, but physical injuries take a larger seasonal role and generate millions of compensated days.
DailySweden Editorial Desk
Original DailySweden guide desk. We write practical Sweden explainers for newcomers and update them when official guidance changes.
Contact the editorial desk ›
