Denmark's population recently surpassed 5.9 million people, though over half its households consist of a single person. The country combines high economic output with one of the world's lowest perceived corruption scores.
Key Takeaways
- Denmark's population as of 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 people
- Denmark's GDP in 2022 was 403.5 billion USD
- Total land area of Denmark is 42,933 square kilometers
- Parliamentary system with Folketing having 179 seats
- Life expectancy at birth in Denmark 2022: 81.4 years total
Denmark saw steady growth in key indicators, showing improving trends for the year.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics and Population30 stats
01
Denmark's population as of 1 January 2023 was 5,932,654 people
02
The population density of Denmark in 2022 was 137.7 inhabitants per square kilometer
03
In 2022, 86.3% of Denmark's population lived in urban areas
04
The median age in Denmark as of 2023 was 41.3 years
05
Denmark's total fertility rate in 2022 was 1.55 children per woman
06
Life expectancy at birth for males in Denmark in 2022 was 79.4 years
07
Life expectancy at birth for females in Denmark in 2022 was 83.1 years
08
Net migration rate to Denmark in 2022 was 2.7 migrants per 1,000 population
09
13.8% of Denmark's population in 2022 were immigrants
10
The largest age group in Denmark in 2022 was 50-54 years old with 363,000 people
11
Denmark's population growth rate in 2022 was 0.48%
12
In 2021, 51.7% of Denmark's population was female
13
Copenhagen metropolitan area had 1,369,200 inhabitants in 2022
14
Aarhus had 361,000 inhabitants in 2022
15
Odense had 205,800 inhabitants in 2022
16
26.4% of Denmark's population in 2022 were aged 65 or older
17
Infant mortality rate in Denmark in 2022 was 3.0 deaths per 1,000 live births
18
Ethnic Danes make up 86.3% of the population as of 2023
19
Muslims comprise 5.4% of Denmark's population in 2020
20
Unemployment rate among immigrants in Denmark in 2022 was 7.9%
21
Average household size in Denmark in 2021 was 2.1 persons
22
49.1% of Danish households in 2021 were single-person households
23
Birth rate in Denmark in 2022 was 10.5 live births per 1,000 population
24
Death rate in Denmark in 2022 was 9.6 deaths per 1,000 population
25
Natural increase in population in 2022 was 0.9 per 1,000 population
26
Population of Greenland (autonomous territory of Denmark) in 2023 was 56,583
27
Faroe Islands population in 2023 was 54,000
28
18.7% of births in Denmark in 2022 were to foreign-born mothers
29
Youth dependency ratio in Denmark in 2022 was 27.2%
30
Old-age dependency ratio in Denmark in 2022 was 32.1%
Interpretation
Demographics and Population Interpretation
Denmark presents a portrait of a healthy, urbanized, and aging society that, while not exactly repopulating itself with gusto, is gently sustained by a modest influx of newcomers, all coexisting at a comfortable arm’s-length distance, as evidenced by half the households being solo acts.
02 · Category
Economy and Finance28 stats
01
Denmark's GDP in 2022 was 403.5 billion USD
02
GDP per capita in Denmark in 2022 was 68,300 USD
03
GDP growth rate in Denmark in 2022 was 2.7%
04
Unemployment rate in Denmark in 2022 averaged 4.6%
05
Inflation rate (CPI) in Denmark in 2022 was 7.7%
06
Public debt as percentage of GDP in Denmark in 2022 was 29.4%
07
Exports of goods and services in 2022 were 64.2% of GDP
08
Imports of goods and services in 2022 were 60.1% of GDP
09
Current account balance in 2022 was 8.9% of GDP
10
Average gross hourly wage in Denmark in 2022 was 285.5 DKK
11
Minimum wage is not legally mandated but average monthly salary in 2022 was 45,000 DKK
12
Corporate tax rate in Denmark is 22%
13
VAT (standard rate) in Denmark is 25%
14
Labor force participation rate (ages 15-64) in 2022 was 82.3%
15
Wind power generated 55.8% of Denmark's electricity in 2022
16
Pharmaceutical exports from Denmark in 2022 totaled 128 billion DKK
17
Machinery exports in 2022 were 109 billion DKK
18
Main export partner Germany accounted for 13.4% of exports in 2022
19
Main import partner Germany accounted for 23.8% of imports in 2022
20
Stock market capitalization (Copenhagen) in 2022 was 683 billion DKK
21
Household saving rate in Denmark in 2022 was 11.2%
22
R&D expenditure as % of GDP in 2021 was 3.03%
23
Number of startups in Denmark in 2022 was 4,500 new firms
24
Foreign direct investment inflow in 2022 was 7.2 billion USD
25
Tourism revenue in 2022 was 25 billion DKK
26
Agriculture contributes 1.2% to GDP in 2022
27
Industry contributes 22.1% to GDP in 2022
28
Services contribute 76.7% to GDP in 2022
Interpretation
Economy and Finance Interpretation
Denmark is a remarkably stable and prosperous economy, casually generating enormous wealth per person with nearly everyone working, all while quietly powering itself with wind, exporting top-tier medicine and machinery, and still finding room to save, innovate, and occasionally fret about that single-digit inflation.
03 · Category
Geography and Climate23 stats
01
Total land area of Denmark is 42,933 square kilometers
02
Coastline length of Denmark is 7,314 km
03
Highest point in Denmark is Møllehøj at 170.86 meters
04
Lowest point in Denmark is Lammefjord at -7 meters
05
Average annual temperature in Denmark is 9.0°C
06
Annual precipitation average in Denmark is 824 mm
07
Forest cover in Denmark is 15.3% of land area as of 2020
08
Arable land is 56.4% of Denmark's land area in 2020
09
Number of islands in Denmark is over 7,800
10
Longest river in Denmark is Gudenå at 158 km
11
Largest lake in Denmark is Arresø at 39.5 square km
12
Denmark's exclusive economic zone is 105,989 square nautical miles
13
Renewable energy share of total energy consumption in 2022 was 42.7%
14
Wind turbines installed capacity in 2022 was 11,143 MW onshore and 2,718 MW offshore
15
Solar PV capacity in 2022 was 3,880 MW
16
Protected areas cover 8.5% of Denmark's land area
17
Number of national parks in Denmark is 7, covering 1,169 square km
18
Average wind speed in Denmark is 7.6 m/s at 10m height
19
Sea level rise threat: Denmark loses 10 cm per decade due to subsidence and rise
20
Jutland peninsula makes up 2/3 of Denmark's landmass
21
Zealand island area is 7,031 square km
22
Funen island area is 3,256 square km
23
Copenhagen lies at 55°40′N 12°34′E coordinates
Interpretation
Geography and Climate Interpretation
Denmark, a nation paradoxically vast in its 7,800-island coastline yet so modest in its 170-meter peak, is a flat, fertile, and windswept leader defiantly engineering a green future from a sea slowly reclaiming it.
More related reading
04 · Category
Government and Society24 stats
01
Parliamentary system with Folketing having 179 seats
02
King Frederik X ascended throne on 14 January 2024
03
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen since 27 June 2019
04
Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 score: 90/100 (rank 1st)
05
Press Freedom Index 2023 rank: 2nd out of 180, score 89.4
06
Gender equality index 2022: 73.1/100
07
Military expenditure % GDP 2022: 1.4%
08
Active military personnel 2023: 20,000
09
NATO member since 1949
10
EU member since 1973, Schengen Area member since 2001
11
Gini coefficient after taxes 2021: 26.7 (low inequality)
12
Voter turnout 2022 election: 84.1%
13
Happiness ranking World Happiness Report 2023: 2nd, score 7.586
14
Social expenditure % GDP 2021: 28.4%
15
Renewable energy policy: 100% renewable electricity by 2030 target
16
Same-sex marriage legalized since 2012
17
Number of municipalities: 98 since 2007 reform
18
Freedom House score 2023: 97/100 (Free)
19
Internet freedom score 2023: 94/100
20
Women in parliament 2022: 44.6%
21
CO2 emissions per capita 2022: 4.0 tons
22
Recycling rate municipal waste 2022: 52%
23
Paternity leave: 2 weeks reserved, total parental leave 52 weeks
24
Average retirement age 2023: 67 years
Interpretation
Government and Society Interpretation
Denmark's enviable stability, low corruption, and high happiness suggest a system that, while occasionally bickering politely in its 179-seat parliament, has largely mastered the art of adult supervision.
05 · Category
Health and Education26 stats
01
Life expectancy at birth in Denmark 2022: 81.4 years total
02
Obesity rate (BMI >30) in Denmark adults 2022: 19.7%
03
Physicians per 1,000 people in Denmark 2021: 4.3
04
Hospital beds per 1,000 people 2021: 2.6
05
Health expenditure as % of GDP 2021: 10.8%
06
PISA 2022 math score for Denmark: 489
07
PISA 2022 reading score: 489
08
PISA 2022 science score: 494
09
Tertiary education attainment (ages 25-34) 2022: 48%
10
Student-teacher ratio primary education 2021: 9.6
11
Government expenditure on education % GDP 2020: 6.8%
12
Suicide rate per 100,000 in 2021: 6.4
13
Cancer incidence rate per 100,000 in 2020: 300.5
14
Diabetes prevalence in adults 2021: 5.6%
15
Vaccination rate measles 2022: 95%
16
Alcohol consumption per capita 2021: 9.6 liters pure alcohol
17
Smoking prevalence adults 2021: 14%
18
Literacy rate adult total 2020: 99%
19
School enrollment secondary net 2021: 98.2%
20
University enrollment rate 2022: 35% of age cohort
21
COVID-19 vaccination rate fully vaccinated as of 2023: 84.5%
22
Mental health treatment coverage 2022: 90% of population
23
Air pollution PM2.5 mean annual exposure 2021: 8.9 micrograms per cubic meter
24
Number of universities in Denmark: 8 public research universities
25
Average class size primary school 2022: 19 students
26
Student mobility outbound 2022: 15% of students
Interpretation
Health and Education Interpretation
Denmark delivers a remarkably long and literate life with commendable efficiency, proving you don't need to spend lavishly on hospital beds when you invest smartly in everything from teachers to vaccines, though one might gently suggest swapping a few of those 9.6 liters of alcohol for a salad.
Reference
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Denmark Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/denmark-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Denmark Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/denmark-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Denmark Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/denmark-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level