Denmark: the country completely refuses to deliver paper letters from 2026

Amid the rapid growth of digital communications and declining demand for traditional mail, the National Postal Service of Denmark has announced the discontinuation of paper mail delivery. Starting from 2026, the state structure will focus exclusively on logistics of parcels and physical items, completely excluding the paper correspondence segment from its activities.

The solution is based on a profound transformation of the communication habits of the population. According to the state postal service, the volume of paper letters in the country has decreased from 1.4 billion units in 2000 to 110 million in 2024-almost 13 times. Today, more than 95% of the Danish population uses exclusively digital communication channels, including secure email, government online services and instant messengers.

The transition to a new logistics model is accompanied by a large-scale reorganization of the infrastructure. It is planned to eliminate thousands of street mailboxes and redistribute resources towards the delivery of commercial items, online orders and administrative documentation that is not subject to digital processing.

Current developments in Denmark reflect a pan-European trend. Postal operators in other countries are also reviewing their business models. In Germany, due to a decrease in the volume of written correspondence, more than 8,000 jobs were optimized. In the UK, the postal service has switched to a one-day delivery model for non-urgent correspondence, minimizing costs amid a decline in interest in paper letters.

The Danish scenario, where digitalization has reached almost the entire adult population of the country, can serve as a guide for postal operators in other countries. The strategy of completely eliminating paper letters not only reflects the real needs of consumers, but also frees up resources for the development of electronic services and logistics of the future.