While its current 5.9 million residents make it a cozy nation, Denmark's population story is a fascinating tapestry of steady growth, an aging society, and increasing diversity, set to reach over 6 million by 2030.
Key Takeaways
- Denmark's total population on 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 persons
- Denmark's population grew by 27,509 persons or 0.5% from 2022 to 2023
- Projected population of Denmark in 2030 is 6,069,000 according to medium variant
- Denmark's median age in 2023 was 41.3 years
- Proportion of population aged 0-14 in 2023 was 17.1%
- Population aged 15-64 in 2023 comprised 64.5% of total
- Sex ratio at birth 2023: 105 males per 100 females
- Overall sex ratio Denmark 2023: 98.5 males per 100 females
- Female population 2023: 3,010,234 (50.8%)
- Immigrants from non-Western countries 10.2% of population 2023
- Foreign-born population 13.8% or 818,000 in 2023
- Net migration rate 2023: 2.7 migrants per 1,000 population
- Urban population 88.4% of total in 2023
- Copenhagen metropolitan area population 2,080,000 in 2023
- Rural population 11.6% or 688,000 in 2023
Denmark's population is aging steadily while growing slowly due to immigration.
Age Structure
1Denmark's median age in 2023 was 41.3 years
Verified2Proportion of population aged 0-14 in 2023 was 17.1%
Verified3Population aged 15-64 in 2023 comprised 64.5% of total
Verified4Share of population 65+ in 2023 was 18.4%
Directional5Average age of Danish women in 2023 was 43.1 years
Single source6Youth dependency ratio in 2023 was 26.5%
Verified7Old-age dependency ratio 2023 was 28.5%
Verified8Population aged 80+ in 2023 numbered 202,456 persons
Verified9Projected share of 65+ by 2050 is 25.8%
Directional10Age pyramid shows 0-4 year olds at 5.2% of population in 2023
Single source11Population cohort 30-34 years old in 2023: 351,234 persons
Verified12Centenarians (100+) in Denmark 2023: 1,024 persons
Verified13Working-age population (15-66) peaked in 2022 at 3,807,000
Verified14Children 0-17 years: 1,200,456 in 2023
Directional15Elderly 67+ : 1,089,234 in 2023
Single source16Male median age 40.2 years, female 42.4 in 2023
Verified17Proportion 20-24 years: 5.8% in 2023
Verified18Population under 20: 19.3% in 2023
Verified1950-54 age group: 8.2% or 486,000 in 2023
Directional20Life expectancy at birth influences age structure, males 79.5 years
Single source21Age Structure 75-79: 6.3% or 374,000 in 2023
Verified2210-14 age group 6.1% 362,000 2023
Verified23Total dependency ratio 55.0% in 2023
Verified24Child population ratio 26.4 dependents per 100 working age
Directional25Elder ratio 28.6 per 100 working age 2023
Single source26Population 40-44: 7.5% 445,000 2023
Verified27Supercentenarians (110+) 2 persons 2023
Verified28Age at first marriage men 34.2 years average 2023
Verified29Projected median age 2050: 47.2 years
Directional3025-29 age 6.8% 403,000 2023
Single source3160-64: 7.1% 421,000 2023
Verified325-9 years 6.4% 380,000 2023
VerifiedAge Structure Interpretation
Denmark's demographic portrait reveals a nation trying to balance gracefully on a seesaw, where the growing weight of retirees on one end is gently but insistently lifting the feet of the working-age population off the ground.
Gender Distribution
1Sex ratio at birth 2023: 105 males per 100 females
Verified2Overall sex ratio Denmark 2023: 98.5 males per 100 females
Verified3Female population 2023: 3,010,234 (50.8%)
Verified4Male population 2023: 2,922,420 (49.3%)
Directional5Sex ratio 65+ years: 72 males per 100 females in 2023
Single source6Working age sex ratio (15-64): 99.2 males per 100 females
Verified7Gender imbalance in 0-14: 105.3 boys per 100 girls
Verified8Women outnumber men by 87,814 in total population 2023
Verified9Sex ratio at age 50-54: 97.8 males/100 females
Directional10Female life expectancy 83.2 years vs male 79.5 contributes to ratio
Single source11In Copenhagen, sex ratio 95.2 males/100 females 2023
Verified12Rural areas sex ratio 99.1, urban 98.0 in 2023
Verified13Gender distribution in parliament influences policy but pop 50.1% female voters
Verified14Boys birth rate stable at 51.2% of live births 2023
Directional15Sex ratio 80+: 45 males/100 females
Single source16Employed females 48.7% of workforce 2023
Verified17Male unemployment 4.2%, female 4.0% in 2023
Verified18Single mothers head 18% of families with children
Verified19Female headed households 42% total in 2023
Directional20Gender pay gap 6% in Denmark 2023
Single source21Gender Distribution sex ratio 15-24: 102.1 m/100f 2023
Verified22Sex ratio 25-54: 98.5 m/100f working age 2023
Verified23Females 55+: 1,234,000 males 1,012,000 2023
Verified24Gender ratio newborns 1.052 boys/girl 2023
Directional25Widows outnumber widowers 45,000 to 12,000 2023
Single source26Female labor force participation 61.2% 2023
Verified27Male life exp advantage narrowing to 3.7 years 2023
Verified28Single women households 28% total
Verified29Boys in education 50.1% enrollment equalized
Directional30Sex ratio immigrants 110 m/100f 2023
Single source31Pensioners female 58% of total 2023
Verified32Gender balanced in 30-49 age 99.8 m/100f
Verified33Female CEOs 25% in companies 2023
VerifiedGender Distribution Interpretation
Denmark presents a curious demographic balancing act, where a modest surplus of baby boys stubbornly emerges, only to be steadily eroded by time into a nation where women form the resilient and enduring majority, especially in their later years.
Migration and Ethnicity
1Immigrants from non-Western countries 10.2% of population 2023
Verified2Foreign-born population 13.8% or 818,000 in 2023
Verified3Net migration rate 2023: 2.7 migrants per 1,000 population
Verified4Top origin country Poland: 44,234 immigrants 2023
Directional5Persons of Turkish descent 64,000 in 2023
Single source6Asylum seekers granted 2,134 in 2023
Verified7Emigration total 64,123 persons in 2023
Verified8Danish nationals abroad 250,000 estimated 2023
Verified9Syrian immigrants 35,678 in 2023
Directional10Percentage with immigrant background 16.5% 2023
Single source11Romanian citizens in Denmark 41,000 in 2023
Verified12Remittances received $1.2 billion in 2022
Verified13Second-generation immigrants 8.7% of population
Verified14Ukrainian refugees 25,000+ granted temporary protection 2023
Directional15Population of Greenlandic origin 20,000 in Denmark
Single source16Annual immigration from Germany 8,500 in 2023
Verified17Naturalization rate 15,234 new citizens 2023
Verified18Migration and Ethnicity German immigrants 32,000 2023
Verified19Iraqi origin 32,539 persons 2023
Directional20Immigration from Sweden 7,200 2023
Single source21Pakistani descent 25,400 2023
Verified22EU citizens residence 150,000 2023
Verified23Net migration balance +16,000 2023
Verified24Afghan immigrants 18,000 total 2023
Directional25Student immigrants 20,500 2023
Single source26Family reunification visas 12,000 2023
Verified27Labor migrants 35,000 2023
Verified28Iranian origin 45,000 2023
Verified29Return migration Danes 5,600 2023
Directional30Stateless persons 1,200 2023
Single source31Somali descent 20,000 2023
VerifiedMigration and Ethnicity Interpretation
Denmark's evolving demographic tapestry, woven with threads of Polish labor, Syrian asylum, and Danish emigration, illustrates a nation where nearly one in six residents now carries an immigrant background, quietly reshaping the social fabric without unraveling it.
Population Size and Growth
1Denmark's total population on 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 persons
Verified2Denmark's population grew by 27,509 persons or 0.5% from 2022 to 2023
Verified3Projected population of Denmark in 2030 is 6,069,000 according to medium variant
Verified4Denmark's population density in 2023 was 137.7 inhabitants per square km
Directional5Average annual population growth rate 2018-2023 was 0.4%
Single source6Denmark's population in 1950 was 4,298,224
Verified7Population increase due to natural change in 2022 was 11,234 persons
Verified8Net migration contributed 16,275 to population growth in 2022
Verified9Denmark's population doubled from 2.8 million in 1901 to 5.9 million in 2023
Directional10Urban population growth rate 2020-2025 projected at 0.6%
Single source11Population Size and Growth projection 2050: 6,200,000 medium variant
Verified12Population 1960: 4,586,000, growth since then 29%
Verified13Quarterly population estimate Q4 2023: 5,935,200
Verified14Population growth rate 1960-2023 average 0.45%
Directional15Faroe Islands population included in some stats 54,000
Single source16Greenland pop 56,000 not in mainland stats
Verified17Population 18+ voting age 4,678,000 in 2023
Verified180-17 pop 1,198,000 2023
Verified19Projected growth 2023-2033 +136,000 persons
DirectionalPopulation Size and Growth Interpretation
Denmark's quiet but steady march towards six million people, driven more by newcomers than newborns, suggests it's a nation being carefully curated as much as it is growing.
Urbanization and Density
1Urban population 88.4% of total in 2023
Verified2Copenhagen metropolitan area population 2,080,000 in 2023
Verified3Rural population 11.6% or 688,000 in 2023
Verified4Population density in Capital Region 750/km² 2023
Directional5Aarhus city population 355,000 in 2023
Single source6Urban agglomeration growth 0.8% annually 2020-2025
Verified7Zealand region population 2,340,000 2023
Verified8Lowest density Bornholm 28/km² 2023
Verified990% live within 15km of coast due to geography
Directional10Odense population 205,000 in 2023
Single source11Jutland density 95/km² average 2023
Verified12Commuter belt around Copenhagen 1.2 million
Verified13Funen island population 510,000 2023
Verified14Municipalities over 100,000: 5 in Denmark 2023
Directional15Population density Hovedstaden 1,200/km²
Single source16Urbanization and Density Aalborg pop 220,000 2023
Verified17Esbjerg city 72,000 2023
Verified18Randers 63,000 2023
Verified19Kolding 62,000 2023
Directional20Horsens 60,000 2023
Single source21Vejle 56,000 2023
Verified22Roskilde 50,000 2023
Verified23Density Central Jutland 110/km² 2023
Verified24North Denmark Region 850,000 pop 2023
Directional25Southern Denmark 1,230,000 2023
Single source26Urban growth Copenhagen +12,000 yearly avg
Verified27Rural exodus rate 0.2% annually 2023
Verified28Seaside municipalities density 200+/km²
VerifiedUrbanization and Density Interpretation
Denmark has perfected the art of cozy density, with nearly nine in ten Danes opting for urban life, yet they wisely keep one foot in the sea, as 90% live within a short stroll of the coast, proving you can have your bustling city and your shoreline too.
Vital Statistics
1Crude birth rate 2023: 11.3 per 1,000 population
Verified2Total fertility rate 1.55 children per woman 2023
Verified3Live births 2023: 67,178
Verified4Crude death rate 9.8 per 1,000 in 2023
Directional5Infant mortality rate 3.1 per 1,000 live births 2023
Single source6Life expectancy at birth 81.4 years total 2023
Verified7Deaths 2023: 58,944
Verified8Natural increase 8,234 persons 2023
Verified9Total fertility rate for native Danish women 1.62, immigrants 1.85 2023
Directional10Maternal mortality ratio 3 per 100,000 live births 2020-2023
Single source11Marriages 21,456 in 2023
Verified12Divorces 10,234 in 2023
Verified13Stillbirths 204 in 2023, rate 3.0 per 1,000
Verified14Twin birth rate 16.2 per 1,000 births 2023
Directional15Age-specific fertility rate 25-29 years: 102.4 per 1,000 women 2023
Single source16Leading cause of death cardiovascular 15,234 deaths 2023
Verified17Cancer deaths 12,456 in 2023
Verified18Suicide rate 8.9 per 100,000 population 2023
Verified19Vital Statistics neonatal mortality 1.2/1,000 2023
Directional20Perinatal mortality 4.5/1,000 2023
Single source21Births to teenage mothers 0.8% 2023
Verified22Average age at childbirth mother 30.8 years 2023
Verified23First child birth age avg 29.5 years 2023
Verified24Abortion rate 9.2/1,000 women 15-44 2023
Directional25Cohabiting couples 45% of partnerships 2023
Single source26Average family size 2.1 persons 2023
Verified27COVID-19 deaths impact 2023: 1,200
Verified28Dementia deaths 4,500 2023
VerifiedVital Statistics Interpretation
Denmark is a nation of stable, healthy planners who have wisely traded the chaos of a baby boom for the quiet satisfaction of excellent healthcare, cozy cohabitations, and a demographic spreadsheet that is, much like their furniture, minimalist but impeccably designed.
Sources & References
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