In a bold move to revive its struggling reading culture, Denmark’s government has announced plans to abolish the 25% sales tax on books — currently the highest rate in Europe.
Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said the decision, unveiled on Wednesday as part of the government’s upcoming budget bill, is aimed at making books more affordable and accessible for citizens.
“We must do everything possible to address the reading crisis that has unfortunately deepened in recent years,” Engel-Schmidt told news agency Ritzau.
Eliminating the tax is expected to cost the Danish state around 330 million kroner ($51 million) annually, but officials argue the long-term social benefits outweigh the fiscal loss.
The policy shift follows a troubling report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which revealed that 24% of Danish 15-year-olds struggle to understand simple texts — a figure that has risen by four percentage points in just a decade.
Denmark’s publishing sector has long campaigned for the reform. In May, industry leaders urged the government to cut the tax to “guarantee access to physical books for all Danes, both children and adults.”
The move now places Denmark alongside countries such as the United Kingdom, where books are exempt from sales tax, underscoring a broader European push to safeguard literacy in the digital age.
