Denmark's population stands at 5,932,654. Women outnumber men by 87,814 while the median age reaches 41.3 years. These figures shape the balance between working-age residents and those over 65.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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 median age was 41.3 in 2023, with an aging population projected to grow further by 2050.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age Structure30 stats
01
Denmark's median age in 2023 was 41.3 years
02
Proportion of population aged 0-14 in 2023 was 17.1%
03
Population aged 15-64 in 2023 comprised 64.5% of total
04
Share of population 65+ in 2023 was 18.4%
05
Average age of Danish women in 2023 was 43.1 years
06
Youth dependency ratio in 2023 was 26.5%
07
Old-age dependency ratio 2023 was 28.5%
08
Population aged 80+ in 2023 numbered 202,456 persons
09
Projected share of 65+ by 2050 is 25.8%
10
Age pyramid shows 0-4 year olds at 5.2% of population in 2023
11
Population cohort 30-34 years old in 2023: 351,234 persons
12
Centenarians (100+) in Denmark 2023: 1,024 persons
13
Working-age population (15-66) peaked in 2022 at 3,807,000
14
Children 0-17 years: 1,200,456 in 2023
15
Elderly 67+ : 1,089,234 in 2023
16
Male median age 40.2 years, female 42.4 in 2023
17
Proportion 20-24 years: 5.8% in 2023
18
Population under 20: 19.3% in 2023
19
50-54 age group: 8.2% or 486,000 in 2023
20
Life expectancy at birth influences age structure, males 79.5 years
21
Age Structure 75-79: 6.3% or 374,000 in 2023
22
10-14 age group 6.1% 362,000 2023
23
Total dependency ratio 55.0% in 2023
24
Child population ratio 26.4 dependents per 100 working age
25
Elder ratio 28.6 per 100 working age 2023
26
Population 40-44: 7.5% 445,000 2023
27
Supercentenarians (110+) 2 persons 2023
28
Age at first marriage men 34.2 years average 2023
29
Projected median age 2050: 47.2 years
30
25-29 age 6.8% 403,000 2023
Interpretation
Age 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.
02 · Category
Gender Distribution30 stats
01
Sex ratio at birth 2023: 105 males per 100 females
02
Overall sex ratio Denmark 2023: 98.5 males per 100 females
03
Female population 2023: 3,010,234 (50.8%)
04
Male population 2023: 2,922,420 (49.3%)
05
Sex ratio 65+ years: 72 males per 100 females in 2023
06
Working age sex ratio (15-64): 99.2 males per 100 females
07
Gender imbalance in 0-14: 105.3 boys per 100 girls
08
Women outnumber men by 87,814 in total population 2023
09
Sex ratio at age 50-54: 97.8 males/100 females
10
Female life expectancy 83.2 years vs male 79.5 contributes to ratio
11
In Copenhagen, sex ratio 95.2 males/100 females 2023
12
Rural areas sex ratio 99.1, urban 98.0 in 2023
13
Gender distribution in parliament influences policy but pop 50.1% female voters
14
Boys birth rate stable at 51.2% of live births 2023
15
Sex ratio 80+: 45 males/100 females
16
Employed females 48.7% of workforce 2023
17
Male unemployment 4.2%, female 4.0% in 2023
18
Single mothers head 18% of families with children
19
Female headed households 42% total in 2023
20
Gender pay gap 6% in Denmark 2023
21
Gender Distribution sex ratio 15-24: 102.1 m/100f 2023
22
Sex ratio 25-54: 98.5 m/100f working age 2023
23
Females 55+: 1,234,000 males 1,012,000 2023
24
Gender ratio newborns 1.052 boys/girl 2023
25
Widows outnumber widowers 45,000 to 12,000 2023
26
Female labor force participation 61.2% 2023
27
Male life exp advantage narrowing to 3.7 years 2023
28
Single women households 28% total
29
Boys in education 50.1% enrollment equalized
30
Sex ratio immigrants 110 m/100f 2023
Interpretation
Gender 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.
03 · Category
Migration and Ethnicity30 stats
01
Immigrants from non-Western countries 10.2% of population 2023
02
Foreign-born population 13.8% or 818,000 in 2023
03
Net migration rate 2023: 2.7 migrants per 1,000 population
04
Top origin country Poland: 44,234 immigrants 2023
05
Persons of Turkish descent 64,000 in 2023
06
Asylum seekers granted 2,134 in 2023
07
Emigration total 64,123 persons in 2023
08
Danish nationals abroad 250,000 estimated 2023
09
Syrian immigrants 35,678 in 2023
10
Percentage with immigrant background 16.5% 2023
11
Romanian citizens in Denmark 41,000 in 2023
12
Remittances received $1.2 billion in 2022
13
Second-generation immigrants 8.7% of population
14
Ukrainian refugees 25,000+ granted temporary protection 2023
15
Population of Greenlandic origin 20,000 in Denmark
16
Annual immigration from Germany 8,500 in 2023
17
Naturalization rate 15,234 new citizens 2023
18
Migration and Ethnicity German immigrants 32,000 2023
19
Iraqi origin 32,539 persons 2023
20
Immigration from Sweden 7,200 2023
21
Pakistani descent 25,400 2023
22
EU citizens residence 150,000 2023
23
Net migration balance +16,000 2023
24
Afghan immigrants 18,000 total 2023
25
Student immigrants 20,500 2023
26
Family reunification visas 12,000 2023
27
Labor migrants 35,000 2023
28
Iranian origin 45,000 2023
29
Return migration Danes 5,600 2023
30
Stateless persons 1,200 2023
Interpretation
Migration 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Population Size and Growth19 stats
01
Denmark's total population on 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 persons
02
Denmark's population grew by 27,509 persons or 0.5% from 2022 to 2023
03
Projected population of Denmark in 2030 is 6,069,000 according to medium variant
04
Denmark's population density in 2023 was 137.7 inhabitants per square km
05
Average annual population growth rate 2018-2023 was 0.4%
06
Denmark's population in 1950 was 4,298,224
07
Population increase due to natural change in 2022 was 11,234 persons
08
Net migration contributed 16,275 to population growth in 2022
09
Denmark's population doubled from 2.8 million in 1901 to 5.9 million in 2023
10
Urban population growth rate 2020-2025 projected at 0.6%
11
Population Size and Growth projection 2050: 6,200,000 medium variant
12
Population 1960: 4,586,000, growth since then 29%
13
Quarterly population estimate Q4 2023: 5,935,200
14
Population growth rate 1960-2023 average 0.45%
15
Faroe Islands population included in some stats 54,000
16
Greenland pop 56,000 not in mainland stats
17
Population 18+ voting age 4,678,000 in 2023
18
0-17 pop 1,198,000 2023
19
Projected growth 2023-2033 +136,000 persons
Interpretation
Population 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.
05 · Category
Urbanization and Density28 stats
01
Urban population 88.4% of total in 2023
02
Copenhagen metropolitan area population 2,080,000 in 2023
03
Rural population 11.6% or 688,000 in 2023
04
Population density in Capital Region 750/km² 2023
05
Aarhus city population 355,000 in 2023
06
Urban agglomeration growth 0.8% annually 2020-2025
07
Zealand region population 2,340,000 2023
08
Lowest density Bornholm 28/km² 2023
09
90% live within 15km of coast due to geography
10
Odense population 205,000 in 2023
11
Jutland density 95/km² average 2023
12
Commuter belt around Copenhagen 1.2 million
13
Funen island population 510,000 2023
14
Municipalities over 100,000: 5 in Denmark 2023
15
Population density Hovedstaden 1,200/km²
16
Urbanization and Density Aalborg pop 220,000 2023
17
Esbjerg city 72,000 2023
18
Randers 63,000 2023
19
Kolding 62,000 2023
20
Horsens 60,000 2023
21
Vejle 56,000 2023
22
Roskilde 50,000 2023
23
Density Central Jutland 110/km² 2023
24
North Denmark Region 850,000 pop 2023
25
Southern Denmark 1,230,000 2023
26
Urban growth Copenhagen +12,000 yearly avg
27
Rural exodus rate 0.2% annually 2023
28
Seaside municipalities density 200+/km²
Interpretation
Urbanization 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.
06 · Category
Vital Statistics28 stats
01
Crude birth rate 2023: 11.3 per 1,000 population
02
Total fertility rate 1.55 children per woman 2023
03
Live births 2023: 67,178
04
Crude death rate 9.8 per 1,000 in 2023
05
Infant mortality rate 3.1 per 1,000 live births 2023
06
Life expectancy at birth 81.4 years total 2023
07
Deaths 2023: 58,944
08
Natural increase 8,234 persons 2023
09
Total fertility rate for native Danish women 1.62, immigrants 1.85 2023
10
Maternal mortality ratio 3 per 100,000 live births 2020-2023
11
Marriages 21,456 in 2023
12
Divorces 10,234 in 2023
13
Stillbirths 204 in 2023, rate 3.0 per 1,000
14
Twin birth rate 16.2 per 1,000 births 2023
15
Age-specific fertility rate 25-29 years: 102.4 per 1,000 women 2023
16
Leading cause of death cardiovascular 15,234 deaths 2023
17
Cancer deaths 12,456 in 2023
18
Suicide rate 8.9 per 100,000 population 2023
19
Vital Statistics neonatal mortality 1.2/1,000 2023
20
Perinatal mortality 4.5/1,000 2023
21
Births to teenage mothers 0.8% 2023
22
Average age at childbirth mother 30.8 years 2023
23
First child birth age avg 29.5 years 2023
24
Abortion rate 9.2/1,000 women 15-44 2023
25
Cohabiting couples 45% of partnerships 2023
26
Average family size 2.1 persons 2023
27
COVID-19 deaths impact 2023: 1,200
28
Dementia deaths 4,500 2023
Interpretation
Vital 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Denmark Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/denmark-population-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Denmark Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/denmark-population-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Denmark Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/denmark-population-statistics.
Sources & references
16 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level