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Is Denmark a cashless country?

Low cash use, but cash still counts

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Short answer

No. Denmark uses very little cash, but it is not cashless. In 2025 cash was used for 9 % of payments in physical shops and made up 7 % of the amount paid there, and about 1 in 8 payments between private persons was in cash. Notes and coins in circulation equalled about 1.7 % of GDP in 2025. Shops must still accept cash from 06.00 to 22.00 as of November 2026.

Practical info

Why

  1. Most people pay by card or phone, so cash use keeps falling.
  2. Older people and rural areas still use cash more.
  3. Cash works as a backup when digital payments fail.

Details

In 2025 cash was about 4 % of payments in the Copenhagen area and 15 % in rural areas.

Tip

Pay by card in most places, but keep a little cash for markets, small kiosks and outages.

What may differ

Cash use may keep falling, and a new banknote series is planned for 2028–2029.

Common misconception

Denmark has already abolished cash.

What actually happens

Danish kroner in notes and coins are still issued and used, and shops must accept them in the daytime.

People also ask

  • Do shops in Denmark have to accept cash?
  • How much cash should you have on you in Denmark?
  • Are there still ATMs in Denmark?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Payment rules, limits and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.

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