Denmark’s state-run postal service, PostNord, delivered its final letter on Tuesday (local time), bringing an end to more than 400 years of traditional mail delivery. The development comes as the country
turned fully towards digital communication.
With this move, Denmark has become the first country in the world to officially decide that physical letter delivery is no longer essential or economically sustainable in the digital age.
According to CNN, in 2024, PostNord delivered over 90 per cent fewer letters than it did in 2000. A similar trend has been seen elsewhere, including in the United States, where the US Postal Service delivered about half as much mail in 2024 compared to 2006.
As communication today is shifting towards online mode, the role of traditional letters has steadily faded.
Notably, PostNord began removing Denmark’s iconic red mailboxes earlier this year. Around 1,500 mailboxes were taken down across the country starting in June.
The company even sold the removed mailboxes for charity in December. Interestingly, public interest surged and hundreds of thousands of Danes attempted to buy one, with prices ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 Danish krone depending on their condition.
The response highlighted the emotional connection many citizens still feel towards the postal service, even as they rarely use it.
Going forward, people who still need to send physical letters will have to drop them off at kiosks inside retail shops. From there, private courier company DAO will handle deliveries within Denmark as well as overseas.
PostNord, however, will continue operating its parcel delivery services, which remain in high demand due to the growth of online shopping, CNN reported.
Denmark is among the most digitally advanced countries in the world. Most government services now function through online platforms, sharply reducing the need for paper-based communication.
(With agency inputs)
