In January 2025, it was estimated that 47,000 Danish retirees were living outside Denmark. Most of them were living within Europe, but many were living outside the EU, in countries like Thailand.
However, those two groups are treated very differently. Danish retirees who decide to settle outside of the EU lose access to pension supplement, and that is a clear case of discrimination, according to the Secretary General of Danes Worldwide, Michael Bach Petersen.
Only the basics
To many Danes, the idea of retiring in a warm southern country like Thailand, can be appealing. To live out the rest of your days in a tropical paradise, where the climate is warmer and lifestyle cheaper.
But even if things are cheaper in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia, retirees must still be prepared to budget. When a Danish retiree moves outside of the EU, they lose access to pension supplements, leaving them with only the basic amount of the state pension; 7,544 DKK before tax. For many, this is not enough to make the dream of spending their golden years comfortable in the tropics come true.
Photo: Thai-Danish Chamber of Commerce.
A problem for danes worldwide
One loud voice for change on this issue is Danes Worldwide, the organisation for Danish expats. Making sure that Danish retirees receive equal pension benefits regardless of where in the world they live is one of their focus areas.
“It is a matter of principle,” Secretary General Michael Bach Petersen explains. “This is an obvious case of discrimination, that should be fixed.”
“When two people dedicate their whole lives to the Danish workforce, each of them has earned the exact same right to a state pension. It should not matter if one decides to stay in Denmark and the other moves to for instanceThailand. They have earned the same rights and should be given the same pension supplement,” Michael Bach Petersen says.
A matter of principle
Independent activists fighting to make the pension supplement equally accessible for all Danish retirees offer a long list of arguments for their case. Some arguments deal with finances, economic benefits or quality of life.
However, to Danes Worldwide, this is a matter of principle.
“I think it is good that activists are highlighting those factors, and I believe it would be interesting for politicians and lawmakers to delve into them,” Michael Bach Petersen says. “Danes Worldwide acknowledge those arguments. However, our focus is on the rights. To us, this is a matter of principle. It is discrimination. It is an inequality that should be corrected.”
Making things right
Danes Worldwide advocates for the rights of Danish people living abroad. Michael Bach Petersen works in close dialogue with politicians, civil servants and the press, not just on equal pensions, but on a wide range of other topics as well.
“We work hard for our members and our goals,” Michael Bach Petersen says.
Danes Worldwide has been instrumental in many political decisions concerning the rights of Danish people living abroad, as well as long-term Danish expats who have returned to Denmark.
The organisation has a long history of taking part in debates and responding to legislation that can affect Danish expats.
“We are not shy about entering debates and making our opinion heard,” Michael Bach Petersen says. “Sometimes we are the only ones speaking up, so it is important to us to speak on behalf of our members.”
Unaware politicians
According to Michael Bach Petersen, one of the biggest obstacles in the fight against unequal access to the pension supplement is a general lack of awareness among politicians and lawmakers.
“I have met many politicians, to whom it comes as a surprise, that when retirees settle outside the EU, they lose access to the pension supplement,” Michael Bach Petersen explains. “Often, it is simply not something lawmakers think about.”
“That is why we work so hard on this. We need to spread awareness of the problem before we can solve it,” Michael Bach Petersen makes clear.
One way, in which Danes Worldwide spreads awareness of their main focus areas, is through activities and events focused on highlighting the challenges faced by Danes living abroad.
In 2024, Danes Worldwide hosted the event “The Global Danes’ Parliament”, where politicians and members from all around the world were invited to engage in debates on different issues. That year debates had to do with issues such as voting rights and citizenship rules, and the event led to real life legislative change.
Another Global Danes’ Parliament event is coming up in August 2026, where it is anticipated that the debate of equal access to the pension supplement will take up attention.
Michael Bach Petersen. Photo: Danes Worldwide.
