Everyday cycling: -10% mortality and $435 billion in potential health benefits
If every city raised its cycling network to Copenhagen's level, the global health benefits would amount to around $435 billion per year. That is the finding of a study published in 2025 in PNAS, covering 11,587 cities in 121 countries.
A study published in June 2025 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences modelled the impact of expanding cycling infrastructure in 11,587 cities across 121 countries. The conclusion is clear: raising every urban network to Copenhagen’s level would generate global health benefits of around $435 billion per year.
The mechanisms are well documented. According to the World Health Organization (European Regional Office), walking 30 minutes or cycling 20 minutes most days reduces the risk of mortality by at least 10%. Regular cyclists show cancer mortality 30% lower than the population average. The benefits do not stop at the individual: each new kilometre of cycle path generates around 13,400 additional kilometres of cycling trips per year in the city concerned.
This is not an instruction to exercise. It is a public health infrastructure question. Building safe cycle paths means reducing emissions, relieving pressure on emergency services, and enabling millions of people to incorporate physical activity into their daily commute — without extra effort or a gym membership.
The return on investment is measurable. The political trade-offs are a matter of will.
Further reading: The 15-Minute City: Urban Design at a Human Scale