Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of Denmark, you would:

Health

live 0.9 years less

In Denmark, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 81 years (80 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 91.1% more likely to be obese

In Denmark, 14.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.4% of people as of 2024.

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have 26.6% fewer doctors per person

Denmark has 45.0 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. United Kingdom has 33.0 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 14.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Denmark, 5.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.8% as of 2025.

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make 25.2% less money

Denmark has a GDP per capita of $76,970 as of 2025, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $57,602 as of 2025.

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Life

be 100.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Denmark, approximately 4.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In United Kingdom, 8.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 17.1% more likely to die during infancy

In Denmark, approximately 3.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In United Kingdom, on the other hand, 4.1 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 18.5% more on healthcare

Denmark spends 9.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2024.

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Geography

see 69.9% more coastline

Denmark has a total of 7,314 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

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Safety

be 33.3% more likely to be murdered

Denmark has a homicide rate of 0.8 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 43.2% less strain on fresh water

Denmark withdraws 25% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United Kingdom withdraws 14% as of 2022.

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use 32.0% less electricity

Denmark uses 6,165 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. United Kingdom uses 4,195 kWh as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Compare further: Denmark vs. United Kingdom

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
United Kingdom is 1.7% more expensive than Denmark overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Denmark is about 6 times smaller than United Kingdom.
→
Moving from Denmark to United Kingdom · OECD 2015
5,000 people moved from Denmark to United Kingdom.
→
City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Copenhagen vs London
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United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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How big is United Kingdom compared to Denmark? See an in-depth size comparison.

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