Denmark has become the first country to fully end its national letter delivery service, marking the end of more than four centuries of postal history. The decision reflects the country’s rapid transition to digital communication and a sharp, long-term decline in letter volumes.
PostNord, Denmark’s postal operator, said letter delivery is no longer economically viable. According to the company, the number of letters sent has fallen by 90 per cent over the past 25 years. In 2000, nearly 1.5 billion letters were delivered nationwide; last year, that figure dropped to about 110 million.
“For the past 20 years, we’ve seen a major decline in letters in Denmark; the majority of our communication is now electronic,” PostNord’s head of press, Isabella Beck Jørgensen, said. She described Denmark as one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world.
As volumes declined, postage costs rose sharply. Sending a standard letter in Denmark now costs 29.11 krone, making the service increasingly unattractive for consumers. PostNord said the decision, while difficult, was necessary. About 1,500 jobs-roughly one-third of its workforce-will be cut as the company shifts its focus to parcel delivery, which continues to grow alongside online shopping.
The move has largely been accepted by the Danish public, with many people saying they can no longer remember the last time they sent a letter. However, advocacy groups have raised concerns that the transition to digital services may disadvantage elderly people and those in remote areas who still rely on physical mail for essential information such as hospital appointments and home-care decisions.
Since June, PostNord has been removing all 1,500 of its iconic red mailboxes across the country. Many have been sold for charity or allocated to museums, with strong public interest in purchasing them.
PostNord will continue delivering letters in neighbouring Sweden, where digital adoption is lower. Within Denmark, letters can still be sent through private companies, either by dropping them off at designated shops or paying extra for home collection. Under Danish law, the government must ensure that citizens always have access to a letter-sending service if private providers withdraw.