Denmark: Population density, people per square km: The latest value from 2021 is 146 people per square km, unchanged from 146 people per square km in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 456 people per square km, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Denmark from 1961 to 2021 is 131 people per square km. The minimum value, 115 people per square km, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 146 people per square km was recorded in 2020.

Denmark has, by far, the highest population density of the Nordic countries. This is related to the fact that it is the smallest Nordic country in terms of land area. Meanwhile, Iceland, which has the smallest population of the five countries, also has the lowest population density. As the total population increased in all five countries over the past decade, the population density also increased.

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Denmark was reported at 149 sq. Km in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Denmark - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Historical dataset showing Denmark population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

Over the past decade, the Danish population gradually grew older. While there were around 230,000 inhabitants aged 80 years or older in 2014, this group counted over 320,000 people at the beginning of 2023. The largest age group, however, were Danes between 20 and 39 years of age, counting over 1.55 million people that year. Growing population The Danish population has constantly grown since 2000, almost reaching six million in 2024. This is explained by a higher number of people born than deceasing, and a higher number of immigrants than emigrants. In 2023, however, more people deceased than babies born. Eastern Europeans make up largest immigrant group The over 600,000 inhabitants in Denmark with a foreign citizenship underline the increasing role migrants play in Danish society. Many of these are people migrating to Denmark for work, such as many Poles, who make up the largest immigrant group ahead of Ukrainians. Many of the Ukrainians are refugees fleeing the Russia-Ukraine war that broke out in 2022.

Denmark DK: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 136.520 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 135.536 Person/sq km for 2016. Denmark DK: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 121.080 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 136.520 Person/sq km in 2017 and a record low of 108.843 Person/sq km in 1961. Denmark DK: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Denmark – Table DK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

Population density of Denmark went up by 0.79% from 146.4 people per sq. km in 2021 to 147.6 people per sq. km in 2022. Since the 0.38% improve in 2012, population density jumped by 5.57% in 2022. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers.

The statistic shows the density of population in Denmark in 2016, by region (per square kilometer). In the Capital Region of Denmark (Hovedstaden) was the population density highest (699.1 residents per square kilometer).

Denmark DK: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data was reported at 147.760 Person in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 146.250 Person for 2021. Denmark DK: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data is updated yearly, averaging 135.860 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 147.760 Person in 2022 and a record low of 128.520 Person in 1990. Denmark DK: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Denmark – Table DK.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: OECD Member: Annual.

147.6 (people per sq. km) in 2022. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Denmark population by age cohorts (Children: Under 18 years; Working population: 18-64 years; Senior population: 65 years or more). It lists the population in each age cohort group along with its percentage relative to the total population of Denmark. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution across children, working population and senior population for dependency ratio, housing requirements, ageing, migration patterns etc.

Key observations

The largest age group was 18 to 64 years with a poulation of 1,448 (58.58% of the total population). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age cohorts:

• Under 18 years
• 18 to 64 years
• 65 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age cohort for the Denmark population analysis. Total expected values are 3 groups ( Children, Working Population and Senior Population).
• Population: The population for the age cohort in Denmark is shown in the following column.
• Percent of Total Population: The population as a percent of total population of the Denmark is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Denmark Population by Age. You can refer the same here

Over the past 10 years, the highest number of inhabitants in Denmark lived in the Capital Region. As of the first quarter of 2024, over 1.9 million people lived in the Danish Capital Region. The second highest number of inhabitants was found in the Central Denmark Region, followed by the Region of Southern Denmark. Meanwhile, les than 600,000 people live in Northern Denmark. The population in all Danish regions increased over the past years.

Comprehensive socio-economic dataset for Denmark including population demographics, economic indicators, geographic data, and social statistics. This dataset covers key metrics such as GDP, population density, area, capital city, and regional classifications.

The population density in Copenhagen in Denmark saw no significant changes in 2024 in comparison to the previous year 2023 and remained at around 8683.9 people per square km. Nevertheless, 2024 still represents a peak in the population density in this industry in Denmark with 8,683.9 people per square km.

There are some differences between the educational attainment levels of men and women in Denmark. However, in 2023, the most common type of education finished among both genders was vocational education and training programs. A higher share of men than women had completed this type of education. Moreover, there were also more men than women who had completed a primary education as their highest educational level, which was the second most common type of education completed by both genders. Meanwhile, whereas more than 21 percent of women had completed vocational bachelor's programs, only 11 percent of men had the same.

Denmark - Distribution of population by household types: Three or more adults was 4.20% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - Distribution of population by household types: Three or more adults - last updated from the EUROSTAT on October of 2025. Historically, Denmark - Distribution of population by household types: Three or more adults reached a record high of 4.70% in December of 2022 and a record low of 1.70% in December of 2010.

Over the last two decades, the population of Denmark increased overall, reaching nearly six million at the beginning of 2024. The number of female inhabitants was constantly slightly higher than the number of men and amounted to about three million as of January 1, 2024, compared to 2.96 million male inhabitants.

Average age of the Danish population

Since 2005, the Danish population’s average age gradually increased. In this time period, the average age of women was constantly a little higher than that of men. As of January 2023, female inhabitants had an average age of 43.1 years, while male inhabitants on average were 41.4 years old.

 Population of Norway and Sweden

In the past decade, the Norwegian population also grew constantly. In 2023, the number of inhabitants reached nearly 5.5 million. In the neighboring country Sweden, the number of inhabitants increased as well, rising from 9.42 million in 2010 to nearly 10.55 million in 2023.

Rural population (% of total population) in Denmark was reported at 11.37 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Denmark - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

This bar chart displays population (people) by countries yearly using the aggregation sum in Denmark. The data is filtered where the date is 2023. The data is about countries per year.

🇩🇰 Denmark