Denmark will stop delivering letters after 400 years as digital communication takes over

While citizens showed emotional attachment by purchasing old mailboxes, most services have moved online. Parcel deliveries will continue, reflecting strong e-commerce demand, while private couriers will handle remaining letter needs.

The decision reflects a sharp and long-term decline in letter use. According to CNN, PostNord delivered more than 90 percent fewer letters in 2024 than in 2000. A similar trend can be seen elsewhere, including in the United States, where the US Postal Service delivered about half as much mail in 2024 as in 2006. As communication has shifted online, from emails and WhatsApp messages to video calls and social media, the role of traditional letters has steadily faded.

PostNord started removing Denmark’s iconic red mailboxes earlier this year. As of June, approximately 1,500 mailboxes have been removed across the country.

When the company decided to sell the removed mailboxes for charity in December, public interest increased. Hundreds of thousands of Danes tried to buy one, with prices ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 Danish crowns depending on their condition.

The strong response highlighted the emotional connection that many citizens still feel with the Postal Service, even though they rarely use it.

In the future, people who still need to send physical letters will have to drop them off at kiosks in stores. From there, the private courier company DAO will handle deliveries within Denmark and abroad.

However, PostNord will continue to operate its parcel delivery services, which remain in high demand due to the growth of online shopping, CNN reports. Denmark is one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world. Most government services now function via online platforms, greatly reducing the need for paper communications.

“Almost every Dane is completely digital, which means that physical letters no longer serve the same purpose as they used to,” said PostNord spokesperson Andreas Brethvad. He added that electronic communications and e-commerce have overtaken traditional mail in both relevance and volume, CNN reported.

Published on December 31, 2025