Denmark - The State of Happiness 

Americans pay very high taxes, just by another name: Health insurance premiums, social security payroll taxes, college tuition, childcare, auto expenses (due to lousy public transit), high cost utilities. If you add this up for a typical American, our true tax rate would likely be 40-55%. The Danish get universal health care, childcare, retirement, free college, great public transit and subsidized heat -- all paid for by their taxes. Will the US learn from this and improve our society? Probably not, because we're so arrogant and think we're "freer" than everyone else. How free are you if you can't afford healthcare or retirement?

Denmark is one country which actually pays postgraduate (master's degree) students approx USD$1000 per month as an allowance to continue their higher education. Even PhD students get stipends to do research. It's like doing a full-time job. What a fantastic country!

Documentary about happy Denmark. Always recorded in the summer :D

I'm a New Yorker, and I spent 7 months there in the 1980's. Even when Danmark was having problems, it was still one of the greatest nations I ever experienced. Tak Danmark 😊

37% income tax is not high for the value it gives.

I´m 60 now. As a 15 year old I went to an "Efterskole", specializing in Gymnastic´s. And Yes! It was the BEST year of my life.., to this day 😊 ! I screwed up a lot (made some bad choices) and got punished a lot (fair).., but still., never regretted that year of my life, neither would I want to forget it! All Because I learned SO much I could take with me, growing older! I´m a better person - today - for what I learned back then 👍😊👍 !

As an American, I always find it so silly that people in the US freak out over Danish tax rates but like...we also pay high taxes, the only difference is that we don't know where it goes and we get only a fraction of the amenities and resources that Denmark provides to its citizens. Just watching this is so depressing because Americans (again, as an American) are conditioned to immediately reject this lifestyle :( we're so unhappy lol

First and foremost thank you for a wonderful program and I have lived in Denmark half of my life and I can confirm everything in this video is true Denmark is a great country and surely is one of the best countries to live in❤️

Dane here. The ability to trust each other and the wish to be trustworthy runs deep. Saves a lot of problems. A little help at the right is a lot better than a little help given further down. It might not make all that difference. Danes want everybody to succeed. Not just danes but other countries. That is a win-win situation. If one wants a piece of "the danish happiness" I think a good place to start would be the kindergartens. Really seeing the child and supporting development of personality and interrelations with the other kids is what those years are for in the kindergarten I think. Alphabet and numers are learned by playing. Happy, independent kids with good relations will strive to be happy and do well as adults. PS: Hoejskole and efterskole is not free though it is subsidised.

As a dane I would rather use the word CONTENT. It's more precise. And I enjoed your video as it, in many ways, are more telling about our country than a lot of other videos I've seen. Good job, and Skotland will always be welcome to join the nordic countries. Think you will learn more from us than from the british.

Excellent programme, Lesley 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍 Let’s get Scotland independent! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

This is an excellent documentary! Thank you, it captures Denmark perfectly.

Whatever model you choose - we hope you remember that you will be happily and warmly welcome into the family of the Nordic countries ❤

A few years back I heard an interview with the former health minister of Denmark. He was asked what was Denmark's secret to it's well known high level of personal happiness score that the Danes consistently achieve , year after year. He said, "We have our little pills". He than went on to explain that most Danes from youth to old age are regularly on some form of prescription anti-depresent drug. Nothing of that was mentioned in this video . 🇺🇸 🇩🇰

Copenhagen/Denmark, and pretty much ALL the Scandinavian ( /Nordic ) nations, really do seem to have successfully got a handle on just how to effectively and suitably go about doing things and achieving meaningful results: in just about every way and sense, they clearly demonstrate what it actually means to *truly* be enviably sophisticated, progressive, modern, contemporary, livable, civilised, well-functioning, *¨developed¨* countries. ~Marvellous video, this 😊❤💖

They are blessed. Peace with respectable neighbours. Rich. Lots of land. No need to fight.

Denmark looks like if The Netherlands had a scandinavian child. Greetings from NL.

I was there two weeks ago. It's really amazing to watch how nice the surroundings are and how pleasant everyone is. I would love for the opportunity to live there. Coming back again in the Summer next time :)

I'm so envious that Dane have such a harmony society and a excellent government. I hope one day I can see the scenery of Denmark with my own eyes.

I found that the roots of my family tree began here more than anywhere they have extracted DNA from thousands of years old cemeteries. Its thrilling to know where my story began thousands of years ago!!

I’m immensely disappointed that they didn’t discuss the most important distinguishing feature in Danish society and economy: Worker Unions. Lots of countries have welfare programs, good education, and functional politics, BUT only Denmark and Iceland have a Share of employees who are members of a trade union higher than 2/3 (66%). This is, in my opinion, the only reason for our prosperity and all other positive effects lead directly or indirectly back to our high Unionization.

Love love love this!!!! Brilliant watch 👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Very insightful documentary on Denmark! Thank you.

Am seeing your video here in Nairobi,Kenya the few visits to Denmark,Copenhagen and Arthus cities I enjoyed the descipline by road user and very kind Danes and cleanliness in Copeñhagen

Being a Dane and watching this is like studying an outdated text book on a subject you really know. You smile at how simplistic everything is described. Lots of things are recognizable and somewhat correct, but described bluntly without nuance and in its ideal state. Denmark is not this ideal little pradise. We have a lot of huge challenges; our old citizens dont get the care they have paid their taxes a whole life to get because there are too many old, too little money and too few care workers. Many of our young have serious mental issues stemning from abuse of and on social media. Our education system is in shambles from top to bottom. To say nothing of the problems all other countries in the West also struggle with; immigration, environmental issues, city gentrification, achieving energy supply stability, etc. On top of it all we have run out of good people who wants to run for political office and are only able to recruit poor leaders with limited intellects. The best candidates prefer the quiet, well paid life in the private sector away from the prying eyes of the ever present tabloid media. No, Denmark is not as straightforward idyllic as portrayed here. Nothing rarely is. On a few days during summer it is pretty cool, though….

To ride without a helmet here in Copenhagen is insanely stupid! Things go wrong really fast and there are many tragedies. The biggest cause of accidents is from other cyclists. Especially tourists on electric bikes who have not a clue to the written and unwritten rules.

Interesting. But consider putting the music volume down and speech up. It’s way, way too loud.

efterskole is very underrated, you get grown up quickly and can easily feel you've got an advantage to peers who didn't go.

Such an informative channel. I'm new her and I already love your content. Niice. Keep up the spirit.

They are lucky for their happy land. I used to travelled there for many times (supported me by Danish family) , Jylland, the north as well as in Copenhagen. i would like to come back again.

Love this video it contains so many relaxing footage and useful perspective

Amazing documentary!

In Denmark we have seen an increasing government budget surplus. It went from a small $613 million budget deficit in 2020 (because of the covid-19 crisis) to a surprising $8.4 billion surplus in 2021 and a just as surprising $18.4 billion surplus in 2022. The full 2023 figures have not yet been released, but is shows a $9.9 billion budget surplus in the first 3 out of 4 quarters of 2023, despite a huge increase in military spending's and billions worth of military aid for Ukraine.

Very informative and quality documentary. This is true journalism! Greetings from Indonesia! :)

As a Dane, I'd very much welcome Scotland in the Nordic cooperation. We're nearby, we're similarly sized and hold similar values(Not to mention, quite some genetic and linguistics overlap). Join our family! There's plenty sibling rivalry, but we've got each other's backs - always.

I am a 51 year old Dane ,and went on efterskole for 3 1/2 year ,and to be honest it was the best years in my life .and i learnt ,soo much more from it in personality snd alot of other stuff

Amazing doc and insight.

Fascinating. Especially for a progressive liberal American; nice to know there are other cultures out there. We are still a puritan and capitalist society; a dog eat dog world, sadly. And the extreme opposites are becoming worse and worse. I like the many party system that forces everyone to cooperate.

Excellent fiilm. (as per all the other 'Nation' films Lesley has made) As per the 'World Happiness Reports' (see their website), which are extensively researched every year, Denmark and Finland have now been the 'happiest and fairest' countries in the whole world for the last 3 years in a row (and before that , were always hovering around the top 5 countires for over a decade) Both nations have the same size of population than Scotland, yet both don't have as much resources than Scotland does. The main difference is, under UK / Brit Nat rule, Scotland has all it's resources, wealth and tax taken away from us and then 'filtered' through the 'UK Treasury' and UK Government, who then hand us back some 'breadcrumbs' every year and then tell us to 'get on with it, and stop moaning about a lack of democracy' And all this happens in Scotland on top of the fact we can't even choose the governments we want or need. As an example, Scotland hasn't voted for a Tory government since 1955 (yes that's 69 years ago) yet we get Tory governments forced upon us time after time. And now the Labour party has become that 'right wing' it now looks like how the Tory party looked when the 'right wing' voters in England voted them into power in 2010. The Tories are now that 'right wing' they resemble UKIP, All in all Scotland can cure all this injustice , and it will be done by Scotland becoming fully independent so the people of Scotland get to choose what ever political parties and policies we both want and need. And yes, the way most people think about life in Scotland is very similar to our Nordic neiaghbours. Most believe in 'egalitarianism' and understand how much better it worlks. As human beings in general, we are by Mother Nature's design , beings of 'community' . This is the environment we all work best in (and it's a hugely important environment for children to grwo up in , and thus become responsible adults with a strong sence of comminity and of nature itself too. We look forward to becoming independent very soon , and we'll happily take up that open invite by our Nordic neighbours to join the Nordic Council and work alongside them all.

As a Dane, I would use the word glad instead of happy, because happiness is an elusive feeling, while being generally glad about not having to worry too much about most things, is not.

I just love the buildings and their colours.

This was a really great video, very informative. Can we expect more videos like this about different Scandinavian countries?

It's well thought city , futuristic, you guys are looking very young and beautiful ❤️

Ville ønske at man kunne fjerne eller sænke lyden på musikken. Jeg har svært ved at forstå det hele i den larm.

It's a great documentary. I have acquired knowledge from it and your presentation is very good.

Good job. I really enjoyed watching that.

What a great documentary movie. Well done

if the population is below 10m and a somewhat homogenous there's seeming more content and solidarity within a country

Thank uou for a nice film. Not everything might be quite as rosary, but it is not the worst place to live and thrive. As a Dane and a Nordic citizen I would love Scotland to become a part of the Nordic cooperation, the Nordic Council and such. We do have so much on common. Also mentally, culturally. But I understand you have some distance to go before this can be realized.

Thanks Lesley. 👍👍😊😊 Should we change the word 'taxes' to 'costs' ? As mentioned below the US has high costs in health insurance, university costs, etc, it's just taxes by the backdoor, but without the benefits of collective systems.

First of all; I simply love Scotland, not in the way our Vikings did, but with a bit of shame liking that many of your sayings are still a reminder of our “visit”. As a now pensioned wine & spirits manager for 48 years, I’m also deeply in love with your whisky - even if I was almost expelled from Islay driving around the island by Jim the famous master blender at Bowmore. After counting several thousands of sheeps pissing and seeing the muddy water in the small rivers, I dared to ask him, if they did’nt consider to slaughter them to preserve the islands famous 7 or 8 distilleries. Jim almost drove me down to ferry, when I said that. In retrospect, the sheeps pissing might be the secret behind Scottish whisky🤪 I was very pleased and proud of your review of 🇩🇰, which made me think that I should be more humble about all the things I take as granted living in paradise. I sincerely hope that some scottish politicians will get some inspiration from watching your experiences in Denmark😎

Enjoyed seeing this with a crowd at the Cameo. I find it poignant as it might have been a society I could have participated in had my Dad taken up dual nationality after WW11, his mother was Danish. Keep up the good work on showing us the possible.

Denmark’s welfare state provides free education in public institutions. There are no tuition fees at Danish educational institutions. In addition, the student support is granted by the State (in the form of State education grants -SU). There are two main support programmes: 1. For people over 18 following a youth education program i.e. a general upper secondary, vocational upper secondary or vocational education and training program. The grant is: ° Students living with their parents US$ 155-429 monthly grants before tax, depending on the parents’ income. ° Students living on their own US$ 1000 of monthly grants before tax. 2. Student enrolled in a full-degree programme is entitled to a US$ 1000 of monthly grants before tax. The grant corresponds to the education’s prescribed duration in months + 12 extra grant portions. Bachelor’s degrees are 3 years, while Master’s degrees are 2 years.

Very interesting, watching from Kingston Jamaica 🇯🇲 👍

Stop that background music, I can't understand people talk.

Thank you Sue for this great video. I think the problem is because everything in America sques towards youth who just say-- give me the latest. IT things finally began to sque towards older women , ie even 40 & up , we would finally get elegance in women's fashion once again😊 Thx

Nice video ❤

Inspiring!

Really enjoyed looking at Danish life. C'mon Scotland, get the keys to your own front door for once and for all. Ditch Wastemonster.

This excellent documentary highlights the failure of hyper capitalism and lack of a collective consciousness. If the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand were less individualistic (ie obsessed with personal wealth) they too could have a more democratic society which gives everyone, young and old, rich or poor, a better fairer quality of life.

You are perhaps gilding the lily just a little bit,but as an expat Brit who left his depressed town in northeast England in 1969 to live in Denmark,I can only say that Denmark is absolutely the best place in the world to live.

Inspiring, and it obviously works at different stages of young people's development. A lot to think about. And regarding the working years, Marx said his theory wouldn't work , and pure socialism has its flaws too. But Denmark is doing something right with its industries and income and it seems its people have an invested interest in their country's ongoing wellbeing, their environment and their fellows.

We love you back ❤,,,, best regards from 🇩🇰

1:35 I didn't know we had a river in Copenhagen =)

Dont exchange happiness with satisfaction. Or just basic satisfaction.

very well made documentary

I loved this program you have made, i learnd a lot

As a Dane, I would say Happiness is perhaps not the right word; whereas contentment or satisfaction in a life of security and well-being on the material level, is what we have always aimed for here. I do believe we have succeeded in those regards. And I always find it funny how people from outside think we pay enormous taxes. We really don't. What we do have, however, is great freedom of choice because of our flexible security systems.

I seriously doubt we are the happiest people in the world. Not complaining, but there are many other great places in the world with warm and friendly people.

Excellent program. I lived in Denmark for 3 years in the 1980’s. Still remember their wonderful sense of humour, I guess the only downside was the language.

Bit of a stretch to say there was no nostalgia connected to the losses of 1864 😉

Quality content mam,,,,,,love from india❤😊

This began so long ago. The politicians, the kindergarten teacher, the "efterskole" supervisor, etc, THEY are why this is happening. The seeds were sown in the 60ies and 70ies. Sometimes revolutions DO pay.

It's real simple. Leave the Low tier democracy of the UK and focus on getting the highest representative democracy in the world and the world is your oyster. Best from Denmark.

At exactly 1:15 you can see the “Borsen” in the lower right corner. This is the old stock exchange, built by king Christian IV more than 300 years ago, and here in 2024 unfortunately burnt to the ground (almost) It has survived the wars with the Swedes, the British bombing of Copenhagen in 1807 and two world wars. A renovation however, took it down (2024), more or less the same way as Notre Dame in Paris 5 years earlier, by setting it on fire. The investigation is still ongoing, trying to determine the cause of the fire !

The intro (fiddle) music should be pleasantly in the background, not so loud that you cannot hear what people are saying.

Cycling helmet are not worn for protection from automobiles. They are worn in case you come off the bike and crack your head, no matter how enlightened you state you are when compared to American….

I would love to visit Denmark.

Tribe of Dan is living it up

In memory of Elvira Madigan and Sixten Sparre , July 1889, on the island of Tasinge, kingdom of Denmark 🇩🇰🥀🇩🇰

The elementary school teacher pays 37% tax PLUS 8% tax - which she forgets to mention :)

I'm a Dane and shocked to see how blind the politicians are everywhere and especially in England and Sweden. I lived in India in the 60s and experienced the consequences. In Denmark, we do a lot to ensure that newcomers want to assimilate to our legislation and cultural values if they want a citizenship, this does not include their faith. The politicians and bureaucrats mistakenly and short-sightedly believe that the management of development can be done with the help of Economy, i.e. the management of the limited goods, and by buying the cheapest goods and labour. That's not how reality works. The development of our industry and society is controlled through self-sufficiency, and which entails exports. The Nordic Union should only consist of trade and international affairs between sovereign countries like EFTA. The countries should have their own legislation and currency and be facilitated locally in the municipalities. Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Baltic countries, the Netherlands and others are welcome to join a Nordic Union of sovereign countries. It is probably too late for England.The USA, UK, EU and other World Powers are unfortunately going in a different direction. Trade with India, Africa and others should be initiated quickly and with mutual respect.

Rose colored glasses! There’s a lot of problems

Careful not to glamorize - Denmark isn’t perfect.. The taxes are too high on those who have the least, and a lot of big companies and international corporations don’t pay as much as they ought to in comparison. There are definitely some things with regard to the tax system that could do with some fair tweaking but… Yeah, I do think we’re doing quite alright. It is the best economy by a stretch in the Nordics for a reason and we are definitely very society-oriented and not too self serving. I think being content is also a better word than happiness. Nice, cute documentary though. :) PS: We could learn something from the Scots, English, Welsh and Irish too though.. Longer debate but, I wish things weren’t so overly focused on efficiency and practicality here that it costs us our aesthetics. 😅

Looks like the Danes are more healthy from all the cycling and walking everywhere. Awesome!

The measurement for happiness index is more about security the what mind state people are in.

and people in Copenhagen does apparantly not hit their heads, when they crash on their bicycles. If they do, no vital parts take damage evidently.

Correction. Denmark did not control Sweden. Denmark, Norway and Sweden together part of "Kalmar Union". Just like in the European Union, Belgium does not control Denmark.

Its a country one enjoys walking about and good people Danes

I left depressed after living there for two months

What an advanced society. Well Denmark.

❤❤❤❤❤Love this country❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Technically our nearest border is with Germany XD

The Danish Happiness (overall) is because its relatively easy to most people to get a decent life and even if you are unemployed, retired or sick. Single parents have easier life, good childcare, free school and whatnot.. so all in all, a lot easier life for the majority, but not so easy to get super rich..

Can someone please help me with the saying in Danish, as the gentleman at Maersk said it: meaning "If you have the possibility, you have the responsibility." Thank you. 😊 I lived in Norway for 18 years so I can read all the Scandinavian languages.

That's about as honest as one can expect: "It's not scaleable but it is inspirational". Remember, one of the most venerable documents about how humans should organize and get along was also constructed by people that were thinking about how they wanted to live together and treat each otther -- The USA Constitution -- which, it turns out, was not scaleable but remained inspirational till the present day realization that we are back to our Genocidal Roots!

There are plenty of Americans in states like Texas, who if they had to pay Danish levels of taxation they'd think this is communism and oppressive statism. Can't say I agree at all with this 'American' assessment, but just goes to show how very differently things can be seen by different people.

What is "happiness"? How long does it last? Seconds, minutes, hours, days? It is like the morning dew. Evaporates quickly. Are the "poor" of the world, "poor" as compared with the better developed countries, "unhappy". They take life as it comes. Therefore, what is "happiness".

Do not confuse being Content with being Happy. No doubt it is one of the richer countries, has welfare state like policy and high taxes. But it also has some of the highest per capita antidepressant consumption in the world.

Excuse me, there are many pubs in Skive.😂