If you lived in Denmark instead of Sri Lanka, you would:

Health

live 4.6 years longer

In Sri Lanka, the average life expectancy is 78 years (74 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Denmark, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 14.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Sri Lanka spends $507 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Denmark spends $7,262 as of 2024.

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have 4.0 times more doctors per person

Sri Lanka has 11.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Denmark has 45.0 as of 2021.

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have 22.4% more access to essential health services

Sri Lanka scores 67 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Denmark scores 82 as of 2021.

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be 29.0% less likely to die by suicide

Sri Lanka has a suicide rate of 14.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Denmark, it is 10.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 27.7% more likely to be obese

In Sri Lanka, 11.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Denmark, that number is 14.3% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 13.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Sri Lanka, 14.3% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Denmark, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2021.

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make 15.4 times more money

Sri Lanka has a GDP per capita of $5,002 as of 2025, while in Denmark, the GDP per capita is $76,970 as of 2025.

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be 38.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Sri Lanka, 4.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Denmark, that number is 5.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 77.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Sri Lanka, approximately 18.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Denmark, 4.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 32.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Sri Lanka, approximately 5.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Denmark, on the other hand, 3.5 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 82.8% more likely to have internet access

In Sri Lanka, approximately 54.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Denmark, about 99.8% do as of 2024.

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be 10.9% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Sri Lanka, approximately 90% of people have access to drinking water (98% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Denmark, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 3.5 times more on education

Sri Lanka spends 1.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Denmark spends 6.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 2.6 times more on healthcare

Sri Lanka spends 3.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Denmark, that number is 9.4% of GDP as of 2024.

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Geography

see 5.5 times more coastline

Sri Lanka has a total of 1,340 km of coastline. In Denmark, that number is 7,314 km.

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Safety

be 80.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Sri Lanka, road accidents kill 11.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Denmark, they kill 2.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 5.1 times more home broadband

Sri Lanka has 8.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Denmark has 43.4 as of 2024.

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live with 72.2% less strain on fresh water

Sri Lanka withdraws 91% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Denmark withdraws 25% as of 2022.

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use 9.6 times more electricity

Sri Lanka uses 644 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Denmark uses 6,165 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 64.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Sri Lanka, air pollution causes 37.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Denmark, it causes 13.0 as of 2019.

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emit 4.0 times more CO2

Sri Lanka emits 1.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Denmark emits 4.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Denmark: At a glance

Denmark is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 42,434 sq km. Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
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