Denmark most committed to global development, study finds

2012 ‘Commitment to Development Index’ names Denmark as the country most committed to helping poorer nations

The Center for Global Development has released its annual ‘Commitment to Development Index’, and this year Denmark tops the list of countries most committed to the developing world.

The index is an average of scores on seven different measures: aid, trade, investment, migration, environment, security and technology. Scores are then adjusted for a country’s size, levelling the playing field for smaller countries like Denmark. Scores were also scaled so that scores of ‘5’ – overall and within each individual measure – were average.

Overall, Denmark scored 7.0, finishing above both Norway and Sweden, which rounded out the top three with scores of 6.6 and 6.4 respectively.

The index is a rather sophisticated measure, both rewarding and penalising countries for specific policies that either encourage or discourage development, economic, social and otherwise.

For example, the ‘aid’ measure includes ‘quality’ rankings: certain types of aid can actually hurt a country’s development, such as donations to corrupt governments, flooding governments with small aid projects and the donation of “tied” aid, which must be spent on the donor country’s goods and services.

Denmark received high marks across the board, and only scored below average on the ‘investment’ measure, which compared the ease with which a country’s government facilitates investment in a developing nation.

With Denmark, Norway and Sweden filling the top three spots, the results are a win for both Denmark and greater Scandinavia.

Luxembourg (6.3), Austria (6.2), the Netherlands (6.1), Finland (6.0), New Zealand (5.8), the United Kingdom (5.7) and Portugal (5.5) rounded out the top ten. Read more about the index here.




Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.


  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy

  • Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.