Move over fairy tales and pastry; with manufacturing adding 352 billion DKK to the economy and a quarter of a million people powering its workshops, Denmark's real magic lies in its formidable industrial engine.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Denmark's manufacturing sector employed 238,000 people, representing 8.5% of total employment
- The value added by manufacturing in Denmark reached 352 billion DKK in 2022
- Denmark's machinery manufacturing subsector produced goods worth 120 billion DKK in 2021
- Denmark's wind turbine manufacturing capacity installed globally: 15 GW in 2022
- Total electricity production from wind: 52% of total in 2022
- Offshore wind capacity in Denmark: 2.7 GW at end of 2023
- Number of Novo Nordisk employees in Denmark: 25,000 in 2023
- Novo Nordisk revenue from diabetes care: 176 billion DKK in 2022
- Danish pharmaceutical exports: 140 billion DKK in 2022
- Arla Foods revenue: 104 billion DKK in 2022
- Danish dairy production: 5.8 billion kg milk processed in 2022
- Food industry export value: 70 billion DKK in 2022
- Construction industry turnover: 285 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of construction enterprises: 45,000 in 2023
- Residential building permits issued: 28,000 units in 2022
Denmark's diverse manufacturing sector significantly contributes to employment, exports, and the green transition.
Construction and Building Industry
- Construction industry turnover: 285 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of construction enterprises: 45,000 in 2023
- Residential building permits issued: 28,000 units in 2022
- Construction employment: 195,000 people or 6.9% of workforce in 2022
- Infrastructure investment: 60 billion DKK public in 2023
- Building materials production value: 35 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of new dwellings completed: 25,500 in 2022
- Road construction expenditure: 20 billion DKK in 2022
- Green building certifications (DGNB): 1,200 projects since 2011 to 2023
- Construction output growth: 2.5% YoY in 2023
- Share of modular construction: 15% of new builds in 2022
- Public construction contracts value: 100 billion DKK in 2022
- Construction waste recycling rate: 95% in 2022
- Average construction wage: 550 DKK/hour in 2023
- Number of apprentices in construction: 12,000 in 2022
- Offshore wind farm construction jobs: 5,000 peak during 2022 projects
- Renovation market size: 80 billion DKK in 2022
- BIM adoption rate in construction firms: 70% in 2023 survey
- Number of construction bankruptcies: 1,200 in 2022
- Cement production: 2.5 million tonnes in 2022
- Steel fabrication turnover: 20 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of women in construction: 12% of workforce in 2022
- Energy-efficient building stock share: 40% by 2023
- Rail infrastructure projects value: 15 billion DKK ongoing 2023
- Construction productivity per hour: 55 DKK in 2022
Construction and Building Industry Interpretation
Denmark's construction industry stands as a powerful, 285-billion-kroner engine of the economy, yet it's a remarkably thrifty and forward-thinking one, meticulously recycling 95% of its waste while carefully constructing our future—one energy-efficient home, towering wind farm, and steadily laid railway at a time.
Energy Sector
- Denmark's wind turbine manufacturing capacity installed globally: 15 GW in 2022
- Total electricity production from wind: 52% of total in 2022
- Offshore wind capacity in Denmark: 2.7 GW at end of 2023
- Vestas Wind Systems revenue from turbine sales: 166 billion DKK in 2022
- Orsted's installed renewable capacity: 15 GW worldwide in 2023
- District heating coverage in Denmark: 64% of households in 2022
- Bioenergy contribution to energy supply: 20% in 2021
- Oil production from North Sea fields: 140,000 barrels per day in 2022
- Natural gas production: 2.5 billion m3 in 2022
- Total renewable energy share in gross energy consumption: 40.4% in 2022
- Energy intensity of GDP: 0.12 toe per 1000 USD in 2021
- Number of electric vehicle charging points: 25,000 in 2023
- Hydrogen production capacity planned: 4 GW by 2030
- Energy efficiency improvement in industry: 2% annual average 2015-2022
- Solar PV capacity installed: 3.2 GW in 2023
- CHP plants capacity: 14 GW thermal in 2022
- Final energy consumption by industry: 85 PJ in 2021
- CO2 emissions from energy sector: 18.5 million tonnes in 2022
- Electricity price for industry: 0.12 EUR/kWh in 2023 average
- Number of wind turbine manufacturers in Denmark: 5 major firms in 2023
- Export of energy technology: 50 billion DKK in 2022
- Power-to-X projects: 10 operational pilots in 2023
- Energy R&D spending: 2.5 billion DKK in 2022
- Grid losses in electricity transmission: 2.1% in 2022
- Biomass power generation: 15 TWh in 2022
- Number of energy-intensive industries: 200 firms in 2022
- Renewable heating share: 55% in 2022
- Oil refinery capacity: 4.8 million tonnes per year at Fredericia
- Gas storage capacity: 1 billion m3 in 2023
- Wind energy R&D investment: 1.2 billion EUR annually average 2020-2023
- Industrial electrification rate target: 70% by 2030
Energy Sector Interpretation
Denmark, once powered by North Sea oil, now wields turbines as its primary export and the wind as its sovereign energy source, navigating the energy transition with a blend of Viking ambition and meticulous accounting, determined to profit from the weather while still keeping its houses warm.
Food Processing Industry
- Arla Foods revenue: 104 billion DKK in 2022
- Danish dairy production: 5.8 billion kg milk processed in 2022
- Food industry export value: 70 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of food processing firms: 5,200 in 2023
- Pork production volume: 1.4 million tonnes carcass weight in 2022
- Carlsberg Group revenue from beer: 85 billion DKK in 2022
- Organic food sales share: 12.5% of total food market in 2022
- Fish processing output: 250,000 tonnes in 2022
- Bakery products turnover: 25 billion DKK in 2022
- Meat processing employment: 20,000 jobs in 2022
- Sugar production: 450,000 tonnes from beets in 2022
- Food waste in processing: 5% of input materials in 2021
- Number of EU-approved slaughterhouses: 150 in Denmark 2023
- Frozen food production growth: 3.5% YoY 2022
- Beverage manufacturing turnover: 40 billion DKK in 2022
- Export of cheese: 400,000 tonnes in 2022
- Food industry R&D spend: 4 billion DKK in 2022
- Plant-based product sales growth: 15% in 2022
- Number of employees in dairy processing: 18,000 in 2022
- Canning and preserving fruits turnover: 8 billion DKK in 2022
- Food safety incidents: 120 reported in 2022
- Traceability compliance rate: 98% in food firms 2023
- Investment in food automation: 2 billion DKK in 2022
- Share of export in food production: 75% in 2022
- Number of HACCP-certified processors: 4,500 in 2023
- Turnover growth in confectionery: 4.8% in 2022
- Value added in food processing: 50 billion DKK in 2022
Food Processing Industry Interpretation
Denmark is so efficiently turning grass into gold and pork into prosperity that it’s practically a giant, high-tech, HACCP-certified vending machine for the world, cleverly washed down with a Carlsberg.
Manufacturing Sector
- In 2022, Denmark's manufacturing sector employed 238,000 people, representing 8.5% of total employment
- The value added by manufacturing in Denmark reached 352 billion DKK in 2022
- Denmark's machinery manufacturing subsector produced goods worth 120 billion DKK in 2021
- In 2023, there were 12,500 manufacturing enterprises in Denmark with more than 20 employees
- Export of manufactured goods from Denmark totaled 550 billion DKK in 2022
- Metal products manufacturing turnover was 145 billion DKK in 2021
- Electrical equipment manufacturing in Denmark grew by 4.2% in output value from 2020 to 2022
- Number of employees in Danish furniture manufacturing: 8,200 in 2022
- Plastic products manufacturing output: 45 billion DKK in 2022
- Denmark's manufacturing productivity per hour worked was 68.5 USD in 2021
- Share of high-tech manufacturing in total manufacturing value added: 22% in 2022
- Investment in manufacturing fixed assets: 75 billion DKK in 2022
- Manufacturing energy consumption: 25 TWh in 2021
- R&D expenditure in manufacturing: 35 billion DKK or 10% of value added in 2022
- Manufacturing orders index stood at 105.3 in 2023 (2015=100)
- Turnover in food manufacturing subsector: 180 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of manufacturing jobs created in 2022: 5,200 net increase
- Manufacturing export share to EU: 65% in 2022
- Capacity utilization in manufacturing: 82% in Q4 2023
- Manufacturing wage index: 128.5 in 2022 (2015=100)
- Number of apprentices in manufacturing: 15,000 in 2022
- Manufacturing greenhouse gas emissions: 12 million tonnes CO2 eq in 2021
- Digitalization index in manufacturing firms: 3.2 out of 5 in 2023 survey
- Manufacturing firms with ISO 14001 certification: 45% in 2022
- Average manufacturing firm size: 19 employees in 2022
- Manufacturing import content of exports: 35% in 2021
- Number of manufacturing bankruptcies: 450 in 2022
- Manufacturing output growth: 3.1% YoY in 2023
- Share of women in manufacturing employment: 28% in 2022
- Manufacturing sector GDP contribution: 12.4% in 2022
Manufacturing Sector Interpretation
Denmark's manufacturing sector is a surprisingly lean and green machine, punching well above its weight class by turning a modest 8.5% of the workforce and a hefty dose of R&D into a 550-billion-DKK export powerhouse.
Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industry
- Number of Novo Nordisk employees in Denmark: 25,000 in 2023
- Novo Nordisk revenue from diabetes care: 176 billion DKK in 2022
- Danish pharmaceutical exports: 140 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of biotech firms in Denmark: 350 in 2023
- R&D spending by pharma industry: 45 billion DKK in 2022
- Patent applications in biotech: 1,200 per year average 2020-2022
- Chemical manufacturing turnover: 95 billion DKK in 2022
- Share of pharma in high-tech exports: 30% in 2022
- Number of clinical trials in Denmark: 450 active in 2023
- Lundbeck revenue: 18 billion DKK in 2022
- Vaccine production capacity by Bavarian Nordic: 100 million doses/year
- Fertilizer production: 2 million tonnes annually by Yara in Denmark
- Paint and coatings industry turnover: 12 billion DKK in 2022
- GMP-certified pharma facilities: 50 in Denmark 2023
- Pharma manufacturing employment: 35,000 jobs in 2022
- Active pharmaceutical ingredients production: 15% of EU supply from Denmark
- Chemical industry energy use: 30 PJ in 2021
- Number of pharma clusters: 3 major (Cph, Medicon Valley, Aarhus)
- Ozempic sales contribution to Novo Nordisk: 40% of revenue in 2023
- Plastic chemicals production: 1.5 million tonnes/year
- Pharma export growth: 12% YoY in 2022
- Investment in pharma R&D startups: 5 billion DKK in 2022
- Number of chemical enterprises: 1,200 in 2022
- Share of women in pharma workforce: 52% in 2023
- Regulatory approvals for new drugs: 15 EMA approvals from Danish firms 2020-2023
- Carbon footprint of pharma production: 1.2 million tonnes CO2 in 2022
- Turnover in basic chemicals: 40 billion DKK in 2022
Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industry Interpretation
Denmark's economy is quite literally fueled by a potent cocktail of insulin, antidepressants, and fertilizer, proving that national health depends as much on chemical balance sheets as it does on personal ones.
Sources & References
- Reference 1DSTdst.dkVisit source
- Reference 2STATBANKstatbank.dkVisit source
- Reference 3ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 4STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 5DATAdata.oecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 6ENSens.dkVisit source
- Reference 7OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 8WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 9VESTASvestas.comVisit source
- Reference 10ORSTEDorsted.comVisit source
- Reference 11NSTnst.dkVisit source
- Reference 12GEUSgeus.dkVisit source
- Reference 13DATAdata.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 14ENERGISTYRELSENenergistyrelsen.dkVisit source
- Reference 15WINDPOWERwindpower.orgVisit source
- Reference 16UFMufm.dkVisit source
- Reference 17IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 18NOVONORDISKnovonordisk.comVisit source
- Reference 19ANNUALREPORTannualreport.novonordisk.comVisit source
- Reference 20INVESTINDKinvestindk.comVisit source
- Reference 21EUROSTATeurostatVisit source
- Reference 22CLINICALTRIALSclinicaltrials.govVisit source
- Reference 23LUNDBECKlundbeck.comVisit source
- Reference 24BAVARIAN-NORDICbavarian-nordic.comVisit source
- Reference 25YARAyara.dkVisit source
- Reference 26LAEGEMIDDELSTYRELSENlaegemiddelstyrelsen.dkVisit source
- Reference 27HEALTHhealth.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 28MEDICONVALLEYmediconvalley.comVisit source
- Reference 29BIOINNOVATIONINSTITUTESbioinnovationinstitutes.orgVisit source
- Reference 30EMAema.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 31ARLAarla.comVisit source
- Reference 32LANDBRUGSINFOlandbrugsinfo.dkVisit source
- Reference 33CARLSBERGGROUPcarlsberggroup.comVisit source
- Reference 34MSTmst.dkVisit source
- Reference 35FOEDEVARESTYRELSENfoedevarestyrelsen.dkVisit source
- Reference 36FOODNATIONDENMARKfoodnationdenmark.comVisit source
- Reference 37LANDBRUGSRAADETlandbrugsraadet.dkVisit source
- Reference 38TRAFIKSTYRELSENtrafikstyrelsen.dkVisit source
- Reference 39VEJDIREKTORATETvejdirektoratet.dkVisit source
- Reference 40DGNdgn.dkVisit source
- Reference 41BYGHERREFORENINGENbygherreforeningen.dkVisit source
- Reference 42UDBUDudbud.dkVisit source
- Reference 43BYGGESTATISTIKbyggestatistik.dkVisit source
- Reference 44CEMENTIRcementir.dkVisit source
- Reference 45BYGGERIETSENERGITALSbyggerietsenergitals.dkVisit source
- Reference 46BANEDANMARKbanedanmark.dkVisit source