Denmark’s postal service, PostNord, will cease letter deliveries by the end of 2025 and shift its focus solely to parcel services due to a substantial decrease in letter volumes over the past two decades, mainly attributed to the digital transformation in Danish society. Similarly, Canada is experiencing a significant decline in mail volumes, prompting discussions about potentially discontinuing home delivery services. While some experts speculate whether Canada will follow Denmark’s lead in entirely eliminating letter deliveries, others believe it may take at least a decade for that to happen.
Comparing the two countries’ postal services, Denmark has higher stamp costs, with a regular letter stamp priced at 29 kroner (approximately $6.35), whereas a Canadian stamp costs $1.44 individually or $1.24 in a booklet. The decline in mail volume has been more drastic in Denmark, with a 90% reduction compared to Canada’s 60% decrease over the same period.
PostNord’s CEO mentioned that Danes now rarely receive letters, averaging one monthly, while emphasizing the nation’s preference for online shopping and the increasing prominence of global e-commerce. Denmark’s digitalization efforts have propelled it to the top of various rankings, such as having the world’s best digital public sector in 2024, a stark contrast to Canada’s 47th position.
Denmark’s successful phasing out of letter deliveries was enabled by its advanced digital infrastructure, with various services like government cheques, applications, and notices transitioning online. However, concerns have been raised about the impact on elderly and rural populations without adequate digital access. PostNord plans to hand over letter delivery responsibilities to private courier companies, similar to potential scenarios in Canada if letter deliveries were to cease.
Moreover, Canada’s recent postal strike highlighted challenges around delivering essential items like voter cards and mail-in ballots that remain largely non-digitized. Experts pointed out Canada’s slower pace in digitalizing systems, potentially influenced by a degree of tech resistance to protect jobs. Cultural differences and the importance of physical mail for small Canadian businesses have also been cited as reasons why Canada may not be as quick to abandon letter deliveries as Denmark.
As society evolves towards digital reliance, the future generation is expected to embrace the digital norm, making physical mail delivery a rarity, according to experts.