Gallup’s global wellbeing metrics are the first comprehensive measure of the behavioral economics of gross national wellbeing, which lays the foundation for all other measures of a country’s economic strength. With ongoing research projects in more than 150 countries, Gallup is a leader in the collection and analysis of global data and measurements. According to the metrics, Denmark is the most thriving country in Europe.
Gallup asks ordinary individuals for their thoughts and opinions on several topics, including economics, religion, migration, and wellbeing. Gallup’s data provide sound evidence on many issues that more than 98% of the world’s adult population faces. The report says that 82% of Danish adults rated their lives highly enough to be ‘thriving’, while only 17% said they were struggling and only 1% suffering.
You can download the report here.
Thriving in Copenhagen
In the past 30 years, the country’s capital Copenhagen has undergone a great transformation. From an ageing, indebted city with fleeing industries and inhabitants, it has become one of the happiest cities in the world according to different city rankings. Copenhagen has based its resilience on a dynamic economy and a green and inclusive urban environment for its inhabitants. This has materialized through a comprehensive urban development strategy. The city has launched the revitalization of several declining neighborhoods over the course of decades with the objective of building a liveable city with ambitious economic, social and environmental objectives that offers every citizen a homogenous urban and social fabric. The aim of Copenhagen is to make the city liveable, so all aspects of citizens’ lives are taken into consideration in an inclusive strategy of urban planning, making cities and inhabitants more resilient to shock and stresses.
What has happened in Copenhagen the last 12 months?
Well, unfortunately the capital lost one of its oldest landmarks when Renaissance-era stock-exchange building Børsen burned down in April. However, it will be painstakingly rebuilt.
Home of Carlsberg is just a taster of Copenhagen’s newest attractions. Technically, this experience opened at the end of 2023, but it’s so good it’s worth mentioning in this review. Experience the full history of this iconic brand in the original brewery of Carlsberg, the best beer in the world. Probably?
Thriving construction projects have been part of Copenhagen’s wellbeing philosophy for the past three decades This year, the Danish capital will open five new Metro stations and make the growing residential zones even more liveable.
By 2050, the population of Copenhagen is expected to have grown by a further 100,000 people to approx. 750,000. The growth will primarily be seen in the new districts and especially along the waterfront, according to forecasts from the City of Copenhagen.
Late last year, Copenhagen opened the new Opera Park beside the Royal Danish Opera House. The Opera Park is a public park on the Copenhagen harbor front designed for recreation, relaxation and contemplation in the middle of the dense city center. A green lung offering a diverse variation of trees, bushes, plants and flowers. Designed by Cove Architects, it is organized with inspiration from the European capitals’ historical gardens with winding paths and carefully crafted viewpoints, The Opera Park consists of six gardens from various parts of the world, a café and greenhouse, underground parking garage for up to 300 cars as well as a covered pedestrian bridge connecting the park with the neighboring Royal Danish Opera. The park will open 27th of October
In 2015, the first residents moved into the newly established Århusgadekvarteret, which today is seen as a district in its own right. About 2,800 people now live there, and the first of many eateries, supermarkets and specialty shops have also opened. In 2020, the Copenhagen Metro opened two stations.
The second phase of Copenhagen’s DKK20bn expansion onto the artificial island of Lynetteholm began late last year. Lynetteholm will be built by development company By & Havn (City & Port) using soil from construction projects in Copenhagen and the surrounding area.
Nordhavn’s long history as an industrial port is evident throughout the new development. Old buildings and features have been preserved, and many of the new buildings and projects are inspired by the area’s historical past.
“Nordhavn exudes maritime industrial history. And this special atmosphere is being maintained and integrated into the district by preserving selected buildings and cultural-historical features. New materials and fixtures are chosen to tie in with the original character of the port. In other words, robust materials such as concrete surfaces, cast iron, cobblestones, COR-TEN weathering steel and hardwood that can all withstand the coastal climate, while patinating beautifully and meeting the functional requirements,” says Kristian Wederkinck Olesen, Communications Manager at By & Havn.
Denmark’s first dedicated children’s hospital is under construction. ‘Life must be lived – even during serious illness.’ This is the premise for Denmark’s new children’s hospital, Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital, named after HM Queen Mary. In a new partnership between the hospital’s foundation, Børneriget Fonden, idverde, Malmos Landskaber, and Juul Frost Architects, this special test project that will lead to “Mary’s Magical Roof Garden” on top of the new children’s hospital towards Nørre Allé.
The children’s hospital is scheduled for completion in 2026 and is a big investment in families by a city that’s already well known for its human generosity.
Denmark – the Most Thriving Country in Europe, compiled by Tor Kjolberg