The Danish Digital Journey
Since 2001, the central, regional and local governments in Denmark have cooperated strategically to create the foundation for the future digital public sector in Denmark.
Denmark as a digital frontrunner
For more than 20 years, the Danish national government, municipalities, and regions have worked closely together to build a strong digital infrastructure that serves as the foundation for public services for residents and businesses in Denmark.
This effort has resulted in a series of top placements in international surveys on digital government for Denmark.
Joint public collaboration as a cornerstone of digital development
The cornerstones of public digitisation and the widespread use of digital solutions in Denmark have been set through close and binding cooperation across the public sector for many years. This cooperation is based on joint public digitisation strategies, which are multi-annual agreements concerning the authorities at all levels of government, from central government to regions and municipalities.
The digital strategies make it possible for the public sector to make joint investments in areas which are particularly complex, and in which there are interdependencies across different authorities and sectors.
For instance, through the joint digitisation strategy effective from 2011 to 2014, a gradual transition to mandatory digital self-service and communication via Digital Post was initiated. This means that citizens and businesses today are required to use digital self-service for a wide range of services, and to receive digital letters, notices and messages from public authorities.
Furthermore, this has resulted in large infrastructure solutions that serve all citizens and companies in their daily lives and interactions with the public sector. This includes a recent new and updated digital post -solution and the citizen portal borger.dk. Moreover, the second-generation eID solution MitID serves as a personal entrance key to both the public sector and parts of the private sector, e.g. banks.
Danish citizens and businesses have generally welcomed the digital transition of Danish society, recognising the many advantages. Furthermore, there has been a large effort devoted to help and guide those who find digital services hard to use.
The overall positive sentiment has only strengthened the political willingness to commit to further digital transition through – among other agreements – a new Joint Public Digital Strategy 2026-2029.
The next steps in Denmark's digital development
The joint public collaboration on digitisation among the central government, the municipalities and the regions will continue as the backbone for the public sector digitisation and service in Denmark.
In line with this, the Joint Government Digital Strategy 2026-2029 aims to ensure coherent and user-friendly digital solutions, effective use of data, and responsible application of new technologies. Key initiatives include a digital power of attorney solution, a digital consent solution, an AI-based digital assistant to simplyfy citizen interactions, and effort to increase digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on large foreign tech providers. These intitatives support a more efficient, coherent, and trustworthy public sector.