In 2025, more than 9 out of 10 payments in physical stores were made using digital payment methods, making Denmark one of the most digitalized countries in the field of payments. This can be seen from a recent survey by Danmarks Nationalbank on citizens' payment habits and preferences.
Mobile payments popular are in Denmark
Danes are increasingly using their mobile phones when making purchases in stores, where more than one in three payments are being made with a mobile phone. The so-called wallet payments – where consumers’ payment cards are stored digitally – are proving particularly popular. This applies, for example, to Apple Pay and Google Pay, which for the user largely function in the same way as contactless card payments in stores.
Mobile payment solutions in the Danish payment market
In Denmark, it became possible for private individuals to make payments to each other using a mobile phone when MobilePay was launched in 2013. Subsequently, MobilePay launched solutions for both physical trade and e-commerce, and MobilePay now has more than 4.6 million users in Denmark.
The high prevalence of MobilePay among Danes is largely due to the fact that in 2014 it became possible in Denmark to make instant payments, and thus transfer money immediately around the clock, 365 days a year. The system behind instant payments was implemented in conjunction with the modernisation of the Danish payments infrastructure through a collaboration between the financial sector in Denmark and Danmarks Nationalbank.
Since 2017, several mobile payment solutions have been launched in Denmark for making payments in shops and via the Internet. These include Apple Pay, which launched in 2017, followed by Google Pay in 2018 and Samsung Pay in 2022.
In addition to these payment solutions, the so-called supermarket apps have also become more widespread in Demark. Supermarket apps are essentially based on consumers’ existing payment cards, which are stored digitally in an app for payments in a specific supermarket.
Danes have embraced new payment solutions.
Note:
How long it has taken to reach 3 million users for new solutions.
Fewer cash payments in society
The use of cash for payments in Denmark declined by more than half between 2017 and 2025 and today accounts for just 9 pct. of transactions in physical retail stores. Taken together, these developments suggest that an increasing number of Danes are refraining from using cash for in-store payments. However, cash is not expected to disappear anytime soon and is increasingly being used as a payment backup in situations where digital payment solutions are unavailable.
Danmarks Nationalbank’s survey of citizens' payment habits and preferences
Since 2017, Danmarks Nationalbank has conducted a survey every two years on the payment habits of Danish citizens, including their use of mobile payments, payment cards, and cash.
Selected citizens maintain a payment diary in which they record all payments and provide information on each transaction, including the payment method and where the payment was made, such as cash payments in stores or card payments online.
In addition to the payment diary, each respondent answers a number of questions regarding their payment preferences and their views on cash, for example their preferred payment solution in physical trade and online.
Take an in-depth look at the latest data on payments
Multi-factor increase in the use of instant payments in recent years
Since 2014, citizens in Denmark have been able to use instant payments, and thus transfer money immediately, around the clock, every day of the year. Since 2016 alone, the number of instant payments has multiplied, which is largely due to their widespread popularity among Danish consumers. Instant payments are used mainly for person-to-person transactions, particularly via MobilePay, and for other transfers initiated through online and mobile banking services. Their use remains more limited for payments in physical retail stores and e-commerce.
Multi-factor increase in the use of instant payments in recent years
Citizens under 30 now make half of thier payments using a wallet solution
Across all age groups, Danish citizens are increasingly using mobile wallets to make payments, and their adoption has grown rapidly since 2023. From 2023 to 2025, the share of payments made with wallets on mobile phones more than doubled among Danish citizens aged 30–60 and among those over 70. Mobile wallet payments remain most widespread among Danish citizens under the age of 30, who use wallets on mobile phones for just over half of their payments.
Citizens under 30 now make half of thier payments using a wallet solution
Total cash in circulation in Denmark
Since Danmarks Nationalbank initiated a recall of all older banknotes and the current 1000-kroner note from the 2009 series on November 30, 2023, the cash circulation has decreased by over 16 billion DKK. However, cash in circulation still exceeds 50 billion DKK following the expiry of the deadline on 31 May 2026.
Total cash in circulation in Denmark
Note:
The dashed line indicates the announcement of strategic initiatives in the cash area, while the solid line indicates the date when several banknotes, including the DKK 1,000 banknote, became invalid.
Danmarks Nationalbank publishes the latest circulation figures every month; they can be found in our StatBank.