Danes' cash holdings at home increase to record high

More than four out of ten Danes are now keeping over 1,000 Danish kroner in cash at home, a trend that has pushed the overall level of domestic cash holdings to its highest point since the National Bank of Denmark began tracking the data in 2017. The latest analysis indicates that 40 percent of Danes possess this amount or more in cash.

This increase signifies a shift in how Danes manage their finances, with a growing number viewing their cash reserves as a form of emergency preparedness. The analysis shows that 69 percent of those holding over 1,000 kroner consider it a backup, up from 63 percent in 2023.

Despite the rise in stored cash, its actual use in everyday transactions is decreasing. In 2025, cash accounted for only nine percent of all physical payments made in stores, a drop from eleven percent in 2023. This suggests a divergence between holding cash for security and using it for daily purchases, reflecting Denmark's ongoing move towards a digital payment landscape.