Demographics of Denmark

Demographics of Denmark
Population5,962,689 (2024 1 February est.)
Growth rate1.0085% (2022 est.)
Birth rate9.85 births/1,000 population
Death rate10.02 deaths/1,000 population
Life expectancy81.66 years
 • male79.74 years
 • female83.71 years
Fertility rate1.55 children born/woman (2022)
Infant mortality rate3.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years16.42%
65 and over19.91%
Sex ratio
Total0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.07 male(s)/female
65 and over0.7 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityDane
Major ethnicDanish
Language
SpokenDanish

Demographic features of the population of Denmark include ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects.

Population

Since 1980, the number of people of Danish descent, defined as having at least one parent who was born in Denmark and has Danish citizenship, has remained constant at around 5 million in Denmark, and nearly all the population growth from 5.1 up to the 2018 total of 5.8 million was due to immigration.

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019. Population numbers until 2100 will be increasing.

  • One birth every 8 minutes
  • One death every 9 minutes
  • One net migrant every 34 minutes
  • Net gain of one person every 24 minutes
Population of Denmark, 0-2021
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1870 1,784,741—    
1880 1,969,039+0.99%
1890 2,172,380+0.99%
1901 2,449,540+1.10%
1911 2,747,076+1.15%
1921 3,267,831+1.75%
1930 3,550,656+0.93%
1940 3,844,312+0.80%
1950 4,281,275+1.08%
1960 4,585,256+0.69%
1970 4,937,579+0.74%
1980 5,122,065+0.37%
1990 5,135,409+0.03%
2000 5,330,020+0.37%
2010 5,534,738+0.38%
2020 5,822,863+0.51%
Source: Statistics Denmark
2020 estimate
Year Population
1769 797,584
1787 841,806
1801 929,001
1834 1,230,964
1840 1,289,075
1845 1,356,877
1850 1,414,648
1855 1,507,222
1860 1,608,362
1870 1,784,741
1880 1,969,039
1890 2,172,380
1901 2,449,540
1906 2,588,919
1911 2,757,076
1916 2,921,362
1921 3,267,831
1925 3,434,555
1930 3,550,656
1935 3,706,349
1940 3,844,312
1945 4,045,232
1950 4,281,275
1955 4,448,401
1960 4,585,256
1965 4,767,597
1970 4,937,579
1971 4,950,598
1972 4,975,653
1973 5,007,538
1974 5,036,184
1975 5,054,410

Fertility

The natural growth of the population (births minus deaths) was negative in 2022, that is, minus 1005 people. The last time there was a negative natural increase in the population was in 1988. During 2022, 58,430 children were born, 5,043 fewer than in 2021. In 2022, 59,435 people died, there were 2,283, or 4.0% more than in 2021. The total population in the age group 80 and over grew by 12,844 people, or 4.4%., from 2022 to 2023.

During 2022, the Danish population grew by 59,234 people, so the population on January 1, 2023, consisted of 5,932,654 people. It was a population increase of 1.0 percent, which is higher than in 2021, when the population increase was 0.6 percent.

In 2022, it is the first time in history that immigrant women from non-Western countries now have fewer children on average than women of Danish roots in Denmark. On average, immigrant women have 1.76 children, the descendants have an average of 1.75 children, while women of Danish roots have 1.78 children. This is because Ukrainians, who are categorized as non-Western, have come to Denmark in large numbers.

In the same year, immigrant women from Syria had the highest TFR in Denmark, they give birth to an average of 3.7 children. They are followed by women from Somalia and Pakistan, 2020 figures show.

Denmark had a total fertility rate of 1.55 children per woman in 2022.

In 2021 the number of childless women in their 50s is the highest in seven years; 12.3 percent of women at that age have never had a child, while the 19.5 percent of 50-year-old men do not have children.

Historical fertility rates

TFR of Denmark over time to 2016

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World In Data and Gapminder Foundation.

Year 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860
Total fertility rate in Denmark 4.24 4.06 4.48 4.27 4.41 4.31 4.37 4.44 4.48 4.53 4.4
Year 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870
Total fertility rate in Denmark 4.27 4.17 4.17 4.06 4.21 4.32 4.09 4.18 3.96 4.1
Year 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880
Total fertility rate in Denmark 4.06 4.09 4.16 4.17 4.31 4.4 4.36 4.27 4.3 4.28
Year 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890
Total fertility rate in Denmark 4.34 4.36 4.29 4.5 4.39 4.37 4.28 4.25 4.21 4.11
Year 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
Total fertility rate in Denmark 4.18 4 4.16 4.1 4.09 4.11 4.02 4.08 4.01

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 152nd

Average age of the mother at her first birth

In 2021 the average age of the mother at her first birth in Denmark was of 29.8 years, and the father is of 31.5 years.

Life expectancy

Sources: Our World In Data and the United Nations.

1775–1950

Years 1775 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850
Life expectancy in Denmark 33.0 38.4 40.0 41.5 43.1 41.9 41.1 42.6 42.5 43.9 44.0 43.4 40.4 40.4 40.8 39.5 43.5
Life expectancy in Denmark since 1775
Years 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860
Life expectancy in Denmark 44.5 43.0 38.5 44.7 46.1 46.7 42.5 40.0 44.4 45.1
Years 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870
Life expectancy in Denmark 47.6 47.6 47.2 40.2 39.8 42.9 44.9 45.6 46.1 46.0
Years 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880
Life expectancy in Denmark 46.1 47.2 47.5 46.0 44.4 45.8 47.3 47.5 46.2 44.8
Years 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890
Life expectancy in Denmark 48.3 46.7 48.5 48.5 49.6 49.0 48.7 46.7 47.8 47.2
Years 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
Life expectancy in Denmark 46.8 47.4 47.1 49.4 50.8 52.9 51.8 53.1 50.6 51.9
Years 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910
Life expectancy in Denmark 52.6 54.7 54.8 55.7 54.3 56.5 56.1 54.9 57.4 58.0
Years 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920
Life expectancy in Denmark 57.0 58.0 58.9 58.5 58.4 56.9 57.3 56.3 57.0 57.6
Years 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
Life expectancy in Denmark 61.7 60.6 61.2 61.1 61.9 61.7 61.2 61.9 61.9 62.3
Years 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940
Life expectancy in Denmark 61.8 62.7 63.6 64.1 62.9 63.5 64.0 65.0 65.8 66.3
Years 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950
Life expectancy in Denmark 66.0 67.1 67.4 66.4 66.1 67.2 68.5 70.1 70.1 70.3

1950–2015

Life expectancy in Denmark since 1960 by gender
Period Life expectancy in
Years
Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 71.1 1985–1990 74.8
1955–1960 72.1 1990–1995 75.2
1960–1965 72.4 1995–2000 76.1
1965–1970 72.9 2000–2005 77.3
1970–1975 73.6 2005–2010 78.6
1975–1980 74.2 2010–2015 80.2
1980–1985 74.4
Population pyramid from 1950 to 2020

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.57% (male 493,829 /female 468,548)
15-24 years: 12.67% (male 377,094 /female 358,807)
25-54 years: 39.03% (male 1,147,196 /female 1,119,967)
55-64 years: 12.33% (male 356,860 /female 359,264)
65 years and over: 19.42% (male 518,200 /female 609,737) (2018 est.)
Median age
total: 41.9 years. Country comparison to the world: 35th
male: 40.8 years
female: 42.9 years (2018 est.)

Ethnic and origin groups

People of Danish descent as a proportion of the population regionally and nationally in 2021
Persons of Danish origin over time from 1980 to 2020

Non-indigenous ethnic minorities include:

Historic minorities

Ethnic minorities in Denmark include a handful of groups:

  • Approximately 15,000 people in Denmark belong to a German minority traditionally referred to as tysksindet meaning "German-minded" in Danish, and as Nordschleswiger in German. This minority of Germans hold Danish citizenship and self-identify as Germans. Many of them speak German or Low German as their home language. There are also several thousand German citizens and other ethnic Germans residing in Denmark with no historical connection to this group.
  • An estimated 23,000 people in Denmark proper are ethnic Faroese, while 19,000 Greenlanders reside permanently in Denmark. Many of these use the Faroese and Greenlandic languages, respectively, as their first language. All residents of the Kingdom (viz. Denmark proper, the Faroe Islands and Greenland) holds Danish citizenship, unless they inherit or otherwise receive a foreign citizenship.
  • The Danish Jews number around 6,000 in 2020 according to the organisation Jewish Community in Denmark, around 1,700 being card-carrying members of the organisation.
  • There are close to 10,000 Roma in Denmark.

Modern minorities

A person has Danish origin if he or she has at least one parent who is both a Danish citizen and born in Denmark. Neither immigrants nor descendants have one parent who is both a Danish citizen and born in Denmark. The difference between immigrants and descendants is that immigrants were born abroad, while descendants were born in Denmark.

For asylum seekers and other persons applying for a residence permit in Denmark, there is no unambiguous connection between the time of a granted residence permit and immigration for the person who has been granted the residence permit. The number of residence permits granted in a quarter cannot be interpreted as the quarter's immigration. Citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden do not need a residence permit to live, work or study in Denmark.

Statistics Denmark [3]

Population pyramid of Denmark by origin group in 2023
Danish and foreign born population pyramid in 2023

In the modern minorities, Statistics Denmark counts first-generation immigrants, second-generation (Descendants in Danish statistics classification) and third-generation (Children of descendants in Danish classification). Children of descendants can be either of "Danish origin" (if both of their parents were born in Denmark with Danish citizenship) and of "foreign origin" (if one of their parents is a second-generation immigrant and another first-generation). Therefore, this table included all people of the respective background, people who are classified as of "foreign background" and third-generation immigrants, who classified as of "Danish origin". Statistics Denmark denotes an immigrant's group based on their country of birth, it does this usually off of the immigrant or descendents parents, if only one such parent is known, then the group is determined by that or if no parents are known then it is assumed if the person is an immigrant that their country of origin is their country of birth.

Statistics Denmark also has specific classification bands which it uses to separate different immigrant groups. As an example, for 'Western' immigrants and 'Non-western', the classification band is as follows:

  • Western countries: All 28 EU countries and Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican State, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand.
  • Non-western countries; All other countries.

According to 2021 figures from Statistics Denmark, 86% of Denmark's population of over 5,840,045 was of Danish descent. The remaining 14% were of a foreign background, defined as immigrants or descendants of recent immigrants. With the same definition, the most common countries of origin were Turkey, Poland, Germany, Iraq, Romania, Syria, Somalia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Yugoslavia and its successor states.[citation needed] More than 817,438 individuals (14%) are migrants and their descendants (199,668 second generation migrants born in Denmark).

Of these 817,438 immigrants and their descendants:

There were 121,183 immigrants in 2022, of these 31,381 were Ukrainian citizens, people with Ukrainian citizenship accounted for 26 percent of all immigration. The total population of Denmark increased in 2022 by 59,234 people, and the net immigration of Ukrainian people amounted to 45 percent of this population growth.

Rank Country of origin Population (2008) Population (2021) Population (2023) Population (2024)
1.  Turkey 59,960 75,072 77,845 79,373
2. European Union Poland 21,118 49,369 55,122 57,070
3. European Union Romania 3,681 34,997 44,221 46,036
4.  Syria 3,367 44,326 45,000 45,641
5.  Ukraine 5,105 15,595 42,482 44,825
6. European Union Germany 28,412 35,141 39,528 41,516
7.  Iraq 28,417 34,217 35,101 35,476
8.  Pakistan 21,217 31,175 32,246 33,050
9.  Lebanon 23,343 30,435 31,700 32,269
10.  Iran 14,773 22,408 24,364 26,276
11.  Bosnia and Herzegovina 21,861 23,449 23,625 23,659
12.  Afghanistan 11,880 19,957 21,380 21,784
13.  Somalia 16,561 21,338 21,486 21,653
14.  India 5,666 15,595 19,296 21,268
15.  United Kingdom 12,593 17,651 18,190 18,442
16. European Union Sweden 14,789 17,095 17,726 17,999
17.  Norway 15,747 17,481 17,691 17,735
18.  Vietnam 13,459 16,307 16,906 17,448
19.  China 8,574 14,841 15,836 16,549
20. European Union Lithuania 3,646 15,231 16,439 16,357
21. former  Yugoslavia 18,151 15,903 15,356 15,016
22.  Thailand 8,280 13,166 13,693 14,029
23.  Morocco 9,808 13,170 13,708 13,937
24. European Union Bulgaria 1,194 13,503 13,840
25.  Philippines 7,199 12,760 13,098
26.  Sri Lanka 10,494 12,692 12,996
27. European Union Italy 3,994 11,684 12,313
28.  USA 7,151 10,786 11,293
29.  Russia 4,389 9,517 9,946
30.  Iceland 8,421 9,513 9,765
Population groups Year
1981 1991 2001 2011 2021
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Denmark Danish descent 4,968,337 96.96% 4,920,267 95.6% 4,953,265 92.59% 4,998,111 89.88% 5,022,607 86%
Immigrants 136,229 2.65% 189,649 3.68% 308,674 5.77% 428,904 7.71% 617,770 10.57%
European Union EU-27 59,808 1.16% 61,279 1.19% 74,565 1.39% 124,092 2.23% 205,731 3.52%
Europe outside EU-27 45,148 0.88% 55,797 1.08% 98,042 1.83% 116,300 2.09% 131,189 2.24%
Africa 5,033 9,710 0.18% 28,190 0.52% 33,135 0.59% 46,376 0.79%
North America 6,312 6,525 7,008 9,068 0.16% 10,890 0.18%
South and Central America 2,987 4,263 6,248 9,826 0.17% 17,430 0.29%
Asia 16,200 0.31% 50,556 0.98% 91,731 1.71% 133,261 2.39% 202,625 3.46%
Oceania 571 811 1,314 2,277 2,905
Stateless 9 373 367 480 352
Unknown 170 335 1,209 465 272
Descendants 19,423 0.37% 36,553 0.71% 87,273 1.63% 133,613 2.40% 199,668 3.41%
European Union EU-27 6,763 0.13% 6,949 0.13% 9,679 0.18% 13,097 0.23% 28,273 0.48%
Europe outside EU-27 6,831 0.13% 15,302 0.29% 32,237 0.60% 46,291 0.83% 59,309 1.01%
Africa 895 2,414 10,258 0.19% 16,608 0.29% 25,188 0.43%
North America 985 926 1,004 929 1,029
South and Central America 275 363 605 902 1,571
Asia 3,535 10,420 0.20% 33,045 0.61% 55,260 0.99% 83,815 1.43%
Oceania 93 88 129 149 196
Stateless 29 56 109 237 154
Unknown 17 35 207 140 133
Total 5,123,989 100% 5,146,469 100% 5,349,212 100% 5,560,628 100% 5,840,045 100%

Vital statistics

Births and deaths in Denmark over time
Live births and deaths over time
Crude birth rate and death rate over time
The population density is higher in Denmark than in the other Nordic countries.

Data according to Statistics Denmark, which collects the official statistics for Denmark.

Average population (January 1) Live births Deaths Nat. change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Nat. change (per 1000) Crude migration change (per 1000) Total fertility rate
1900 2,432,000 72,129 40,891 31,238 29.7 16.8 12.8 4.16
1901 2,447,000 73,219 38,786 34,425 29.7 15.7 14.0 -1.7 4.14
1902 2,477,000 72,839 36,424 36,391 29.2 14.6 14.6 -2.9 4.05
1903 2,506,000 72,351 36,956 35,403 28.7 14.6 14.0 -3.6 3.96
1904 2,532,000 73,692 35,903 37,788 28.9 14.1 14.8 -3.7 3.97
1905 2,560,000 73,082 38,598 34,484 28.4 15.0 13.4 -2.1 3.87
1906 2,589,000 74,217 35,231 38,986 28.5 13.5 -2.6 15.0 3.87
1907 2,621,000 74,324 37,275 37,049 28.2 14.1 14.1 -2.3 3.81
1908 2,652,000 76,233 39,072 37,161 28.6 14.6 13.9 -0.7 3.83
1909 2,687,000 76,301 35,837 40,464 28.2 13.3 15.0 -2.0 3.78
1910 2,722,000 75,299 35,184 40,013 27.5 12.9 14.6 -1.7 3.67
1911 2,757,000 73,933 37,236 36,697 26.7 13.4 13.2 -2.0 3.60
1912 2,788,000 74,659 36,486 38,173 26.6 13.0 13.6 -2.1 3.58
1913 2,820,000 72,475 35,364 37,111 25.6 12.5 13.1 -2.1 3.43
1914 2,851,000 73,294 35,921 37,373 25.6 12.5 13.0 -0.7 3.42
1915 2,886,000 70,192 37,174 33,018 24.2 12.8 11.4 0.7 3.23
1916 2,921,000 71,559 39,265 32,294 24.4 13.4 11.0 1.7 3.23
1917 2,958,000 70,306 39,224 31,082 23.7 13.2 10.5 0.7 3.11
1918 2,991,000 72,505 39,038 33,467 24.1 13.0 11.1 0.9 3.16
1919 3,027,000 68,722 39,590 29,132 22.6 13.0 9.6 1.6 2.96
1920 3,061,000 78,230 39,841 38,389 25.4 12.9 12.5 54.1 3.29
1921 3,265,000 78,815 36,215 42,600 24.0 11.0 13.0 -0.4 3.11
1922 3,306,000 73,899 39,452 34,435 22.3 11.9 10.4 -0.1 2.87
1923 3,340,000 74,827 37,903 36,924 22.3 11.3 11.0 -1.1 2.85
1924 3,373,000 73,836 38,091 35,778 21.8 11.2 10.6 -0.8 2.78
1925 3,406,000 71,897 37,083 34,814 21.0 10.8 10.2 -0.5 2.66
1926 3,439,000 70,734 38,093 32,641 20.5 11.0 9.5 -1.4 2.58
1927 3,467,000 68,024 40,190 27,834 19.6 11.6 8.0 -2.2 2.44
1928 3,487,000 68,516 38,484 30,032 19.6 11.0 8.6 -1.7 2.43
1929 3,511,000 65,297 39,486 25,913 18.6 11.2 7.4 -1.7 2.30
1930 3,531,000 66,303 38,174 28,129 18.7 10.8 7.9 -0.5 2.29
1931 3,557,000 64,266 40,578 23,688 18.0 11.4 6.6 2.7 2.20
1932 3,590,000 64,650 39,701 24,949 17.9 11.0 6.9 1.5 2.17
1933 3,620,000 62,780 38,287 24,493 17.3 10.5 6.7 1.9 2.10
1934 3,651,000 65,116 38,050 27,066 17.8 10.4 7.4 1.4 2.15
1935 3,683,000 65,223 40,816 24,407 17.7 11.0 6.6 1.0 2.12
1936 3,711,000 66,418 40,919 25,499 17.8 11.0 6.9 0.4 2.14
1937 3,738,000 67,440 40,442 26,998 18.0 10.8 7.2 0 2.16
1938 3,765,000 68,463 39,058 29,407 18.1 10.3 7.8 -0.1 2.18
1939 3,794,000 67,914 38,535 29,379 17.8 10.1 7.7 0.7 2.16
1940 3,826,000 70,121 39,730 30,391 18.3 10.4 7.9 -1.9 2.22
1941 3,849,000 71,306 39,756 31,550 18.5 10.3 8.2 0.4 2.24
1942 3,882,000 79,545 37,527 42,018 20.4 9.6 10.8 0.5 2.50
1943 3,926,000 84,319 37,982 46,337 21.4 9.6 11.7 0.3 2.65
1944 3,973,000 90,641 41,087 49,554 22.7 10.3 12.4 0.2 2.84
1945 4,023,000 95,062 42,298 52,764 23.5 10.5 13.0 -0.1 2.98
1946 4,075,000 96,111 42,013 54,098 23.4 10.2 13.2 -1.2 3.02
1947 4,124,000 91,714 40,043 51,671 22.1 9.7 12.5 -1.8 2.90
1948 4,168,000 84,938 35,981 48,957 20.3 8.6 11.7 -1.4 2.71
1949 4,211,000 79,919 37,793 42,126 18.9 8.9 10.0 -0.3 2.58
1950 4,252,000 79,558 39,300 40,258 18.6 9.2 9.4 -1.6 2.57
1951 4,285,000 76,559 37,960 38,599 17.8 8.8 9.0 -2.0 2.50
1952 4,315,000 76,943 39,173 37,770 17.8 9.0 8.7 -0.8 2.53
1953 4,349,000 78,261 39,350 38,911 17.9 9.0 8.9 0.3 2.60
1954 4,389,000 76,365 39,885 36,480 17.3 9.1 8.3 -0.3 2.55
1955 4,424,000 76,845 38,789 38,056 17.3 8.7 8.6 -1.8 2.58
1956 4,454,000 76,725 39,588 37,137 17.2 8.9 8.3 -2.7 2.61
1957 4,479,000 75,264 41,730 33,534 16.8 9.3 7.5 -2.6 2.57
1958 4,501,000 74,681 41,560 33,121 16.5 9.2 7.3 -0.4 2.55
1959 4,532,000 73,928 42,159 31,769 16.3 9.3 7.0 0.5 2.52
1960 4,566,000 76,077 43,681 32,396 16.6 9.5 7.1 -1.0 2.57
1961 4,594,000 76,439 43,310 33,129 16.6 9.4 7.2 0.6 2.55
1962 4,630,000 77,808 45,334 32,474 16.7 9.8 7.0 0.8 2.58
1963 4,666,000 82,413 45,773 36,640 17.6 9.8 7.8 0.1 2.64
1964 4,703,000 83,356 46,811 36,545 17.7 9.9 7.7 0.4 2.60
1965 4,741,000 85,796 47,884 37,912 18.0 10.1 8.0 -0.4 2.61
1966 4,777,000 88,332 49,344 38,988 18.4 10.3 8.1 0.5 2.62
1967 4,818,000 81,410 47,836 33,574 16.8 9.9 6.9 0.4 2.35
1968 4,853,000 74,543 47,290 27,253 15.3 9.7 5.6 -0.7 2.12
1969 4,877,000 71,298 47,943 23,355 14.6 9.8 4.8 1.4 2.00
1970 4,907,000 70,802 48,233 22,569 14.3 9.7 4.6 4.4 1.95
1971 4,951,000 75,359 48,858 26,501 15.2 9.8 5.3 -0.3 2.04
1972 4,976,000 75,505 50,445 25,060 15.1 10.1 5.0 1.4 2.03
1973 5,008,000 71,895 50,526 21,369 14.3 10.1 4.3 1.3 1.9170
1974 5,036,000 71,327 51,637 19,690 14.1 10.2 3.9 -0.3 1.8968
1975 5,054,000 72,071 50,895 21,176 14.2 10.1 4.1 -1.9 1.9188
1976 5,065,000 65,267 54,001 11,266 12.9 10.6 2.2 0.4 1.7472
1977 5,078,000 61,878 50,485 11,393 12.2 9.9 2.2 1.5 1.6598
1978 5,097,000 62,036 52,864 9,172 12.2 10.4 1.8 1.1 1.6685
1979 5,112,000 59,464 54,654 4,810 11.6 10.7 0.9 1.1 1.6016
1980 5,122,000 57,293 55,939 1,354 11.2 10.9 0.3 0.1 1.5464
1981 5,124,000 53,089 56,359 -3,270 10.4 11.0 -0.6 -0.4 1.4371
1982 5,119,000 52,658 55,368 -2,710 10.3 10.8 -0.5 -0.1 1.4273
1983 5,116,000 50,822 57,156 -6,334 9.9 11.2 -1.2 0.4 1.3774
1984 5,112,000 51,800 57,109 -5,309 10.1 11.2 -1.0 0.8 1.4001
1985 5,111,000 53,749 58,378 -4,629 10.5 11.4 -0.9 1.9 1.4472
1986 5,116,000 55,312 58,100 -2,788 10.8 11.3 -0.5 2.3 1.4819
1987 5,125,000 56,221 58,136 -1,915 11.0 11.3 -0.4 1.2 1.4977
1988 5,129,000 58,844 58,984 -127 11.5 11.5 -0.0 0 1.5618
1989 5,129,000 61,351 59,397 2,047 12.0 11.6 0.4 0.8 1.6212
1990 5,135,000 63,433 60,926 2,545 12.3 11.9 0.5 1.6 1.6696
1991 5,146,000 64,358 59,581 4,777 12.5 11.6 0.9 2.2 1.6844
1992 5,162,000 67,726 60,821 6,905 13.1 11.8 1.3 2.4 1.7648
1993 5,181,000 67,369 62,809 4,560 13.0 12.1 0.9 2.2 1.7512
1994 5,197,000 69,666 61,099 8,567 13.4 11.7 1.6 2.1 1.8091
1995 5,216,000 69,771 63,127 6,644 13.3 12.1 1.3 5.4 1.8097
1996 5,251,000 67,638 61,043 6,595 12.9 11.6 1.3 3.3 1.7535
1997 5,275,000 67,648 59,898 7,750 12.8 11.3 1.5 2.3 1.7562
1998 5,295,000 66,174 58,453 7,721 12.5 11.0 1.5 1.9 1.7252
1999 5,313,000 66,220 59,179 7,041 12.4 11.1 1.3 1.9 1.7383
2000 5,330,000 67,084 57,998 9,086 12.6 10.9 1.7 1.9 1.7742
2001 5,349,000 65,458 58,355 7,103 12.2 10.9 1.3 2.3 1.7450
2002 5,368,000 64,075 58,610 5,465 11.9 10.9 1.0 2.0 1.7249
2003 5,384,000 64,599 57,574 7,025 12.0 10.7 1.3 1.3 1.7599
2004 5,398,000 64,609 55,086 9,523 12.0 10.2 1.8 0.6 1.7852
2005 5,411,000 64,282 54,962 9,320 11.9 10.1 1.7 1.3 1.8021
2006 5,427,000 64,984 55,477 9,507 12.0 10.2 1.7 2.2 1.8476
2007 5,448,000 64,082 55,604 8,478 11.7 10.2 1.6 3.5 1.8435
2008 5,476,000 65,038 54,591 10,447 11.8 9.9 1.9 4.5 1.8888
2009 5,511,000 62,818 54,872 7,946 11.4 9.9 1.4 3.0 1.8396
2010 5,535,000 63,411 54,368 9,043 11.4 9.8 1.6 3.1 1.8712
2011 5,561,000 58,998 52,516 6,482 10.6 9.4 1.2 2.4 1.7524
2012 5,581,000 57,916 52,325 5,591 10.4 9.4 1.0 2.9 1.7292
2013 5,603,000 55,844 52,428 3,416 9.9 9.3 0.6 9.6 1.6687
2014 5,627,000 56,870 51,340 5,530 10.1 9.1 1.0 7.3 1.6912
2015 5,660,000 58,205 52,555 5,650 10.2 9.2 1.0 6.4 1.7136
2016 5,707,000 61,614 52,824 8,790 10.7 9.2 1.5 4.1 1.7854
2017 5,749,000 61,272 53,261 8,011 10.6 9.2 1.4 2.9 1.7519
2018 5,781,000 61,476 55,232 6,244 10.6 9.5 1.1 1.8 1.7297
2019 5,806,000 61,167 53,958 7,209 10.5 9.3 1.2 1.7 1.6994
2020 5,822,763 60,937 54,645 6,292 10.4 9.4 1.0 4.7 1.6747
2021 5,840,045 63,473 57,152 6,321 10.8 9.7 1.1 9.0 1.7241
2022 5,873,420 58,430 59,435 -1,005 9.9 10.0 -0.1 1.5529
2023 5,932,654 57,469 58,384 -915 9.69 9.84 -0.15 1.4959
2024 5,961,249

In 2022, 45,922 (78.6%) babies were born to mothers of Danish origin, 10,039 (17.2%) to immigrant mothers and 2,469 (4.2%) to mothers who are descendants of immigrants.

Current vital statistics

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January – September 2022 44,509 44,018 +491
January – September 2023 43,645 42,843 +802
Difference Decrease -864 (-1.94%) Positive decrease -1,175 (-2.67%) Increase +311

Structure of the population

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021):
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 2 910 605 2 939 584 5 850 189 100
0–4 159 616 151 094 310 710 5.31
5–9 153 902 145 996 299 898 5.13
10–14 172 489 163 504 335 993 5.74
15–19 174 065 166 351 340 416 5.82
20–24 190 440 182 547 372 987 6.38
25–29 205 462 196 996 402 458 6.88
30–34 190 728 182 907 373 635 6.39
35–39 167 754 163 263 331 017 5.66
40–44 174 967 173 743 348 710 5.96
45–49 196 490 197 259 393 749 6.73
50–54 199 625 197 330 396 955 6.79
55–59 203 904 202 673 406 577 6.95
60–64 173 413 176 026 349 439 5.97
65–69 156 575 163 852 320 427 5.48
70–74 149 499 162 406 311 905 5.33
75–79 125 586 142 076 267 662 4.58
80–84 69 552 88 329 157 881 2.70
85–89 33 148 50 931 84 079 1.44
90–94 11 095 23 783 34 878 0.60
95–99 2 113 7 469 9 582 0.16
100+ 182 1 049 1 231 0.02
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 486 007 460 594 946 601 16.18
15–64 1 876 848 1 839 095 3 715 943 63.52
65+ 547 750 639 895 1 187 645 20.30

Urban areas

Urban area of Copenhagen.
Metropolitan area of Copenhagen.
East Jutland Metro.

The urban area of Copenhagen consists of the contiguously built-up area of the capital of Denmark. The Copenhagen metropolitan area consists of 34 municipalities. The East Jutland metropolitan area includes 19 municipalities.

Religion

The Church of Denmark (Den danske folkekirke) is state-supported and, according to statistics from January 2022, accounts for the religious affiliation of 73.2% of the population. Denmark has had religious freedom guaranteed since 1849 by the Constitution, and numerous other religions are officially recognised, including several Christian denominations, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and other congregations as well as Forn Siðr, a revival of Scandinavian pagan tradition. The Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs recognises roughly a hundred religious congregations for tax and legal purposes such as conducting wedding ceremonies.

Islam is the second largest religion in Denmark. In 2020, an estimated 4.4% of the Danish population were Muslims.

For historical reasons, there is a formal distinction between 'approved' (godkendte) and 'recognised' (anerkendte) congregations of faith. The latter include 11 traditional denominations, such as Roman Catholics, the Reformed Church, the Mosaic Congregation, Methodists and Baptists, some of whose privileges in the country date hundreds of years back. These have the additional rights of having priests appointed by royal resolution and to christen/name children with legal effect.

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran (official) 74.8%, Muslim 5.3%, other (denominations of less than 1% each, include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, and Buddhist) 19.9% (2017 est.)

Employment and income

Unemployment in Denmark over time
Unemployment, youth ages 15–24
total: 12% (2016 est.) Country comparison to the world: 109th
male: 13.1% (2016 est.)
female: 10.9% (2016 est.)

Taxation and benefits

Although the level of taxation in Denmark is among the highest in the world, the labor market participation rate is still high compared with other western countries. Municipal income tax makes up the largest part of taxation in Denmark, with central government income tax topping it up. These income taxes are higher than in other OECD countries. These direct taxes make up two thirds of the taxation on private households with indirect taxes of the central government, and municipalities (property tax), making up one third, i.e. with motor vehicles (passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles) sold from VAT registered dealerships – because of the registration fee – being among the most expensive in the world, with prices in Norway at the same level, and the most expensive in Singapore. Also VAT in Denmark is not reduced from the current 25%. The 25% are paid on all goods and services where VAT is applied. Indirect taxes are about average compared with other European OECD countries. Payroll taxes (Danish sociale afgifter) are much lower than in other OECD countries. The tax structure ensures a broad tax base across the whole population. However, revenue from corporate taxes is lower compared with other European countries. Municipalities and the central government (regions are not allowed to levy any taxes, as they are financed by central government, and municipal block grants) redistribute a large amount of their tax income in transfer payments to municipalities with a low tax base and/or few tax payers. It is normal for children to be in nurseries, which requires a partial payment of the costs or is free of charge for low income households, and in kindergartens owned and operated, or financed, by the public sector. Child benefit is paid to parents for each child. The service to old age pensioners, and handicapped is extensive.

Denmark ranks high in the Corruption Perceptions Index, although the index is criticized for being limited in scope.

Homelessness

Homelessness in Denmark is considered a significant social issue in the country. Since 2007, comprehensive counts have been performed every other year in week six (early February). The latest, from 2017, counted 6,635 homeless people in Denmark. The total number of people experiencing homelessness at some point in 2017 was estimated at 13,000, while earlier estimates have placed it between 10,000 and 15,000. Roughly half the homeless are in the Capital Region. When compared to many other countries, such as the United States, the rate of Denmark's homeless is significantly lower, which has been linked to the relatively comprehensive welfare system.

The number of homeless people in Denmark has risen in recent decades, but this has been most pronounced in people that are between 18 and 29 years old (although 30 to 59 years old remains the largest age group, at 70%), women (although men remains the largest group, at 75%) and immigrants (although Danish citizens remain the largest group). Among the foreign, a high percentage are Eastern or Southern European men that seek work in Denmark. Many of these only stay in Denmark during the summer, returning to their respective countries during the relatively cold Danish winter.

Based on the comprehensive count in February 2017, roughly one-tenth of homeless people in Denmark are "street sleepers" (which also includes people sleeping in stairways, sheds and other places not intended for human habitation), with the remaining sleeping in the homes of friends/family, in hotels/hostels, in shelters or alike. The number of street sleepers is higher during the summer, and homeless foreigners are overrepresented among them. Among homeless in Denmark, the primary issue is psychiatric disease at 36% (24% receive treatment), drug addiction at 27% (17% receive treatment) and alcohol addiction at 23% (9% receive treatment). Overall it is estimated that more than half of all homeless people have mental health issues. Compared to many other countries such as the United States, a higher percentage of Denmark's homeless have mental health issues or substance abuse, as countries with weaker welfare systems tend to have higher homeless rates but the homeless will more likely to include from a wide range of groups.

The government of Denmark's approach to homelessness include commissioning national surveys on homelessness during the last decade that allow for direct comparison between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The three countries have very similar definitions of homelessness, with minor variations.

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-03-26 11:17 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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