with Denmark (5.87 million), Norway (5.47 million) and Finland (5.56 million), which have a population of less than 6 million, small countries have bred shocking economic and social energy and occupied a key position in the global economy, industry, science and technology. It can release the energy that shakes the world. According to the United Nations report in 2025, the happiness index of the three countries ranks 2nd, 4th and 1st in the world respectively (Finland ranks first for six consecutive years). The per capita GDP and income, social development index, government integrity, security index and social trust are also in the forefront. The super-high social welfare and so on are recognized as the happiest and safest countries in the world. Novo Nord of
Denmark, with a total market value of $450 billion, ranks among the top three in the global pharmaceutical industry with Johnson & Johnson and Lilly, accounting for 70% of the global insulin market. At the peak of 2023, the market value ranked first in Europe, close to Tesla, exceeding the total market value of ICBC and CCB (in July 2024, the market value of ICBC, CCB and ABC was 2190, 1860 and 134 billion US dollars respectively, slightly lower than total market value of the three major banks). Maersk of
Denmark is the world's largest shipping company, controlling 17% of the global container shipping market. In 2025, the quantum computer developed by the Danish government in cooperation with Microsoft is pushing Denmark to the top of science and technology. According to reports, it takes one year to simulate the folding of a protein, while the quantum computer takes only 17 minutes. Denmark is using this technology to develop new Alzheimer's drugs, which may change the fate of 200 million elderly people.
Copenhagen aims to become the world's first zero-carbon capital by 2025. Denmark is also the world's largest exporter of pork, and dairy products such as cheese and butter are well-known all over the world. It is worth mentioning that the cement equipment of Danish Smith Company has an important position in the world in the 20th century. Although
Finland's Nokia has shed its crown of mobile phones, it continues to cover the earth in the communication network, and the European Union's 6G project is expected to be commercialized in 2028. Finland's Kone Elevator ranks among the top three in the world, pulling the World Trade Center in New York. Finland is the global leader in forestry and paper industry, packaging materials, bio-energy and circular economy industries. Liquid packaging board accounts for about 35% of the global share. It is the world's largest supplier of label materials and controls the pulse of the global pulp industry chain. The biomass gasification efficiency of Futeng Company reaches 95% (global record).
Finnish Wartsila ships, smart grids and energy storage equipment (more than 50% of the global marine medium-speed engine market), Koni's heavy lifting and port machinery (the top three automated cranes in the world), Metso's mining and aggregate equipment (about 15-20% of the global share, competing with Sandvik and Komatsu, and more than 50% of the global market). Especially in the field of green mineral processing, it is a global leader in the field of crushing and screening equipment.
Norway's sovereign wealth fund (government pension fund) is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, with an investment of $1.4 trillion, holding shares in the top 200 companies in the world, with an annual cash return of about 1. Norwegian Classification Society (DNV) is an independent fund organization with the aim of "safeguarding the safety of life and property and protecting the environment". It has established about 300 branches in 100 countries and is one of the world's leading certification bodies with high authority and influence.
Norway is a global leader in renewable and low-carbon energy transformation, with the lowest cost of offshore floating wind power in the world, and has hydrogen ship technology. Consberg is an internationally renowned multinational industrial group with strong technical strength in underwater oil and gas exploitation, military industry and maritime field. Norsk Hydro's aluminum products account for 12% of the global market and have zero-carbon electrolytic aluminum technology. Yala International Limited is the world's largest supplier of ammonia products, nitrates and compound fertilizers, accounting for 20% of the global market. Sweden,
known as the "country of innovation", has a total population of 10.65 million, a stronger industrial base and strength, with Volvo, Saab and Scania automobile brands, and a global market share of commercial vehicles exceeding 20%. Sweden's information and communication industry is highly developed, with about 1 small and medium-sized enterprises. Sandvik's mining and metallurgical equipment, cemented carbide, and SKF's bearings (which account for a quarter of the world's output) dominate the world. Sweden's life science and technology industry (with AstraZeneca and other well-known pharmaceutical companies), industrial automation (ABB Group) and electromechanical, kitchen and cleaning equipment, clean energy, forestry and paper industry occupy an important position in the world and have strong competitiveness. H & M fashion and casual clothing (annual sales of about 200 billion Swedish kronor) and IKEA are also from Sweden.
Sweden is the first country in the world to legislate on environmental protection. In 2021, about 60% of Sweden's energy supply will come from renewable energy, and 91% of its electricity will come from green and nuclear power. The country aims to be climate-neutral by 2045, using 100% renewable energy.
Second, behind the development and logic
, affluence is not only reflected in the developed economy and statistical data, but also in the quality of life of the people. They deeply felt the unique charm of Nordic Europe, especially the rich, livable environment and comfortable and leisurely lifestyle of the people.
When traveling, they sometimes ask the locals for directions, greetings or brief exchanges in very poor English, and they are very warm and polite to respond. In broad daylight, we often see runners and cyclists, as well as citizens lying on the lawn in swimsuits and bathing in the sunshine in the park. There are many people in cafes or pubs, enjoying coffee or chatting leisurely. Time seems to slow down here, enjoying a pleasant slow life, full of confidence and satisfaction. There
is no skyscraper forest here, and there is no infrastructure frenzy. But per capita GDP and national happiness index are among the top ten in the world all the year round-Denmark 68000 US dollars, Norway 89000 US dollars, Sweden 59000 US dollars, Finland 5.
There is a perfect welfare system, free education, comprehensive medical security, and the gap between the rich and the poor is very small.
Take Denmark as an example. According to the statistics of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Denmark's social welfare accounts for 29% of government expenditure, which is the second highest in OECD countries. The elderly in Denmark receive a monthly basic pension of about 7500 kroner (RMB 8180 yuan), which constitutes a triple guarantee with occupational annuity. Parental allowance in Denmark (about 1. Average daily work 6. Clean government and system). According to reports, in May 2005, a scandal occurred in Denmark in which low-level immigration officials accepted bribes from Chinese students. The amount of bribes was about 75,000 RMB, which was called "the biggest bribery case in Denmark in 30 years".
Northern Europe is low-key and advanced, and there is a great contrast between hard infrastructure and soft power.
In Northern Europe, there are few high-rise buildings and new buildings built in the past 20 years. They are basically low-rise buildings, mostly brick houses decades or even a hundred years ago. The hardware of urban infrastructure and road traffic is not as good as that of cities, counties and even towns in China. The hotel facilities are not as good as ours, but they are clean and elegant, and most of the magnificent buildings are churches and so on.
When you first arrive in northern Europe, you will feel the visual gap. The Copenhagen subway line will not be extended to the new district until 2025. The exposed cement roof of the station is quite different from the streamlined dome of Shanghai Maglev. The century-old building on Oslo's main street is hung with the tram network of the last century. Standing in front of the brick houses, looking at the century-old buildings reflected in the canal, I was pulled back to a century ago in a trance. The foundation of
happiness lies in education and civilization.
Nordic countries attach great importance to education and equity, and tuition fees are free from primary school to university. Finland's "exam-free" basic education pays attention to creativity, the master's degree rate of teachers is 100%, and the social status is very high, the mPISA science list is TOP3 all the year round, and programming education starts from primary school. Norway Bans Digital Grading in Compulsory Education, Focuses on Critical Thinking, OECD Student Science Literacy No.2. Denmark has no transcripts under the age of 12, implements the "adult re-education" system, changes careers at the age of 40, the government pays for you, PBL problem-oriented teaching, and joint research and development between universities and enterprises accounts for 45%. The
Swedish philosophy of life "Lagom", which means "just right", is vividly reflected in Swedish life. Pursue work-life balance, work shorter hours per week on average, but stay productive. After work, they are keen to enjoy "Fika" time, which is similar to the leisure time of afternoon tea. People will stop their busy work and get together with colleagues and friends. While tasting coffee and dessert, they will share the interesting things in life and relax their body and mind.
Northern Europe shows us a different way of life. Life can be so simple and beautiful. Wealth is not only material wealth, but also spiritual wealth and a good social environment.
"Developed" is not only GDP and growth rate, but also beyond the developed connotation of economic indicators (society, fairness, environment, wealth, harmony between man and nature), that is, the "high happiness" that the real "advanced" must have, which is also the most important symbol of Nordic Europe.
Third,
the Nordic countries have indeed reshaped our understanding of development with their unique "small and strong" model-when resources focus on the quality of humanistic care and innovation, millions of people can also release the energy to shake the world. The trip
from Stockholm to Helsinki, Oslo and Copenhagen can also be said to be an immersive investigation of the "good life society" and its ideas.
"People's yearning for a better life is our goal", which is also the slogan of our organization for a hundred years. Our organization interprets "a better life" as "education and fairness, employment security, social security and ecological livability". It can be said that the pursuit of a better life for human beings is interlinked. We
may not be able to replicate northern Europe, but we can ask: how much or whether the annual growth rate of GDP, output value and other statistics is higher than that of Nordic countries should be translated into the improvement of national income and happiness? What is the ultimate significance of the steady growth of GDP and industrial output? How to define wealth and civilization?
Our infrastructure, high-rise buildings and industrial manufacturing capacity and costs are really great. Compared with northern Europe, should we learn from the strengths of others? What aspects? Is it accurate for
many media people to comment that Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and other countries are Communist societies under the cloak of capitalism? But Nordic Europe does provide a global sample with the label of "high welfare, high happiness and high sustainability". Travelers can intuitively feel the affluence and civilization of these countries. Can it trigger people's deep thinking about the path of development?
It can also be seen that the essence of development is not the number and height of high-rise buildings, nor the large population. The same is true of the victory or defeat of modern wars. What inspiration does it have for us?
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