Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.1 years longer

In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022. In Denmark, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

be 45.6% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Denmark, that number is 19.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 21.6% less likely to be unemployed

In United States, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2018. In Denmark, that number is 3.0% as of 2019.

be 17.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2010. In Denmark, however, that number is 12.5% as of 2018.

pay a 40.9% higher top tax rate

United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. In Denmark, the top tax rate is 55.8% as of 2017.

Life

be 78.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 19.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Denmark, 4.0 women do as of 2017.

be 41.2% less likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Denmark, on the other hand, 3.0 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 40.5% less on healthcare

United States spends 16.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Denmark, that number is 10.0% of GDP as of 2019.

spend 56.0% more on education

United States spends 5.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2014. Denmark spends 7.8% of total GDP on education as of 2017.

Geography

see 63.3% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Denmark, that number is 7,314 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Danish Central Tax Administration, The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Service.

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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How big is Denmark compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.

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