GeoRealityMatch
Discover the vibrant architecture and skyline of Copenhagen with orange rooftops and historical buildings.A serene view of a coastal city with buildings and water at dusk, highlighting urban tranquility.

Denmark

Europe · Northern Europe

Very high safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high for Europe. Living costs are high.

Digital NomadOffers home internet at 288 Mbps.
vs Finlandvs Germanyvs Netherlands
Safety

11th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.504lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#11 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.8per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
73.8Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€36,192per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
28.9New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
6.1years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 48% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 16% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$50K$100K$83,218 PPP$76,970Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $52,119 a person, $37,392 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2007, $58,632 a person, $39,110 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2008, $64,617 a person, $41,467 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2009, $58,413 a person, $40,524 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2010, $58,105 a person, $43,038 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2011, $61,810 a person, $44,444 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2012, $58,444 a person, $44,755 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2013, $61,378 a person, $46,869 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2014, $62,520 a person, $47,880 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2015, $53,094 a person, $48,897 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2016, $54,501 a person, $51,821 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2017, $57,522 a person, $55,272 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $61,325 a person, $57,234 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2019, $59,404 a person, $60,595 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2020, $60,985 a person, $62,682 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2021, $69,341 a person, $69,328 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2022, $67,781 a person, $78,554 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2023, $68,044 a person, $77,425 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2024, $71,026 a person, $80,938 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2025, $76,970 a person, $83,218 at PPP, inflation 1.9%$0$50K$100KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $52,119 a person, $37,392 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2007, $58,632 a person, $39,110 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2008, $64,617 a person, $41,467 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2009, $58,413 a person, $40,524 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2010, $58,105 a person, $43,038 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2011, $61,810 a person, $44,444 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2012, $58,444 a person, $44,755 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2013, $61,378 a person, $46,869 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2014, $62,520 a person, $47,880 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2015, $53,094 a person, $48,897 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2016, $54,501 a person, $51,821 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2017, $57,522 a person, $55,272 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $61,325 a person, $57,234 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2019, $59,404 a person, $60,595 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2020, $60,985 a person, $62,682 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2021, $69,341 a person, $69,328 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2022, $67,781 a person, $78,554 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2023, $68,044 a person, $77,425 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2024, $71,026 a person, $80,938 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2025, $76,970 a person, $83,218 at PPP, inflation 1.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
82.3years, at birthVery high
#25 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
85WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
7.7PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Lower youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
13.8%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceLow
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
288 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
611EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet288 MbpsVery fast
Mobile191 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Remote work: Visitor VisaEasy

No dedicated digital nomad visa. Uses Schengen Visitor Visa (90 days/180-day Schengen limit for non-EU). Must work solely for foreign employer with no services to Danish entities. Employment contract, 6 months bank statements, and EUR30,000 health insurance required. EU nationals can stay longer with EU residence registration.

Minimum income
No minimum
Duration
3 months
Renewable
Unclear
Application fee
€90about $99
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official pageImmigration portal
A serene view of a coastal city with buildings and water at dusk, highlighting urban tranquility.
How it changed

Denmark's Human Development Index

0.962Very high human development

4th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 4th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #2Norway0.970
  2. #2Switzerland0.970
  3. #4Denmark0.962
  4. #5Germany0.959
  5. #5Sweden0.959
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.844 in 1990 to 0.962 in 2023.

0.800.901.000.96219902000201020231990: 0.8441991: 0.8481992: 0.8501993: 0.8531994: 0.8591995: 0.8621996: 0.8701997: 0.8761998: 0.8831999: 0.8942000: 0.8962001: 0.9022002: 0.9022003: 0.9072004: 0.9122005: 0.9172006: 0.9172007: 0.9182008: 0.9222009: 0.9152010: 0.9202011: 0.9342012: 0.9382013: 0.9412014: 0.9392015: 0.9432016: 0.9512017: 0.9512018: 0.9502019: 0.9532020: 0.9542021: 0.9582022: 0.9592023: 0.9620.800.901.0019902000201020231990: 0.8441991: 0.8481992: 0.8501993: 0.8531994: 0.8591995: 0.8621996: 0.8701997: 0.8761998: 0.8831999: 0.8942000: 0.8962001: 0.9022002: 0.9022003: 0.9072004: 0.9122005: 0.9172006: 0.9172007: 0.9182008: 0.9222009: 0.9152010: 0.9202011: 0.9342012: 0.9382013: 0.9412014: 0.9392015: 0.9432016: 0.9512017: 0.9512018: 0.9502019: 0.9532020: 0.9542021: 0.9582022: 0.9592023: 0.962

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
82.3 years2024at birthUp 4.4 years from 77.8 years in 2005
Internet users
100%2024of people onlineUp 13 points from 87% in 2006
Urban population
89%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 86% in 2006
Births per woman
1.472024births per womanDown 0.33 from 1.80 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
40%2021of energy usedUp 25 points from 14% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
42024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
4.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 5.1 t from 9.3 t in 2005
Forest area
16%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 14% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Consistently among the world's happiest: flat hierarchies, heavy taxes, superb services. The case for living here is peace, high incomes for Europe and long lives. The case against is a high cost of living.

About Denmark

Denmark is a small Scandinavian country with a reputation for design, cycling culture, and a quality of life that consistently ranks among the highest in the world. The landscape is flat and pastoral, with long coastlines, islands, and a light that shifts beautifully between seasons. The culture places great value on cosiness, community, and understated aesthetics, which suits those who find contentment in simple, well-made things. Winters are long and dark, which is not for everyone.

Practical facts

  • CapitalCopenhagen
  • LanguagesDanish
  • CurrencyDanish krone (DKK)
  • Area40,000 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F/K
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Denmark against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Denmark

Compare Denmark

Borders

Germany

Side by side

vs Finlandvs Germanyvs Netherlandsvs Swedenvs NorwayCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Denmark's Human Development Index?

Denmark's Human Development Index is 0.962 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #4 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Denmark safe?

Denmark scores 1.50 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #11 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Denmark?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Denmark at 78.9 (New York = 100); that is #136 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Denmark?

Life expectancy at birth in Denmark is 82.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #25 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Denmark?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Denmark at 212.2, ranked #2 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.