Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate was 11.60% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate reached a record high of 13.30% in December of 2010 and a record low of 11.60% in December of 2024.

The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Denmark between 2012 and 2022 was highest among citizens born outside of the EU. It usually lay just below ** percent for this group, but dropped below ** percent in 2022. Moreover, the rate was higher among the population born in the EU than among the local-born population. It remained stable between ** and ** percent for the Danish-born population.

Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate of older people was 11.10% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate of older people - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate of older people reached a record high of 17.70% in December of 2010 and a record low of 8.50% in December of 2016.

Historical dataset showing Denmark poverty rate by year from 1987 to 2022.

In Denmark, the material and social deprivation rate was constantly higher among the foreign-born population than among the population born in Denmark. Between 2014 and 2022, the share of the foreign-born population in Denmark living in material and social deprivation varied between 12 and 19.4 percent. Among the Danish-born population, the share varied between 5.2 and 6.7 percent. The material and social deprivation rate shows the share of people who are unable to meet a certain number of needs due to a lack of financial means.

Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: Less than 18 years was 10.10% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: Less than 18 years - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: Less than 18 years reached a record high of 11.00% in December of 2018 and a record low of 9.10% in December of 2013.

The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Denmark amounted to ******* people in 2020. Between 2003 and 2020, the number of people at risk of poverty rose by ****** people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Out of all OECD countries, Cost Rica had the highest poverty rate as of 2022, at over 20 percent. The country with the second highest poverty rate was the United States, with 18 percent. On the other end of the scale, Czechia had the lowest poverty rate at 6.4 percent, followed by Denmark.

The significance of the OECD

The OECD, or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, was founded in 1948 and is made up of 38 member countries. It seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of countries and their populations. The OECD looks at issues that impact people’s everyday lives and proposes policies that can help to improve the quality of life.

Poverty in the United States

In 2022, there were nearly 38 million people living below the poverty line in the U.S.. About one fourth of the Native American population lived in poverty in 2022, the most out of any ethnicity. In addition, the rate was higher among young women than young men. It is clear that poverty in the United States is a complex, multi-faceted issue that affects millions of people and is even more complex to solve.

Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 18 to 24 years was 30.80% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 18 to 24 years - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 18 to 24 years reached a record high of 40.00% in December of 2014 and a record low of 30.60% in December of 2023.

Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 12.300 % in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 12.100 % for 2019. Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 12.200 % from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2020, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.300 % in 2020 and a record low of 12.100 % in 2019. Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Lines: % of Population 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: Social: Poverty and Inequality. National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line(s). National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. For economies for which the data are from EU-SILC, the reported year is the income reference year, which is the year before the survey year.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines.;;This series only includes estimates that to the best of our knowledge are reasonably comparable over time for a country. Due to differences in estimation methodologies and poverty lines, estimates should not be compared across countries.

This statistic displays the rates of severe material deprivation rates in Denmark from 2007 to 2020. The data shows an overall decrease of *** percent of the population experiencing hardship between 2015 and 2016. This is equivalent to a decrease of ** thousand people not being able to pay rent or utility bills; to keep their home adequately warm and to pay unexpected expenses. In 2020, *** percent of the population lived in severe material deprivation in Denmark.

The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Copenhagen fluctuated between **** and **** percent between 2011 and 2021. This means that nearly one quarter of Copenhagen's population had an income lower than ** percent of the median income. By comparison, the rate was **** percent for all of Denmark in 2020, but there are clear variations between people of different backgrounds.

Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 0.500 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.700 % for 2014. Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.500 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.000 % in 2009 and a record low of 0.200 % in 2012. Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population 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: Poverty. Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Denmark - In work at Risk of Poverty rate was 6.20% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - In work at Risk of Poverty rate - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Denmark - In work at Risk of Poverty rate reached a record high of 6.50% in December of 2010 and a record low of 4.10% in December of 2007.

Denmark - Persistent at Risk of Poverty rate: From 18 to 24 years was 14.00% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - Persistent at Risk of Poverty rate: From 18 to 24 years - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Denmark - Persistent at Risk of Poverty rate: From 18 to 24 years reached a record high of 30.70% in December of 2016 and a record low of 1.80% in December of 2012.

Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 0.200 % in 2015. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.200 % for 2014. Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.200 % from Dec 2003 to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.500 % in 2009 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2012. Denmark DK: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population 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: Poverty. Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Denmark DK: Income Share Held by Lowest 20% data was reported at 9.400 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.100 % for 2014. Denmark DK: Income Share Held by Lowest 20% data is updated yearly, averaging 9.400 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.900 % in 2004 and a record low of 9.100 % in 2014. Denmark DK: Income Share Held by Lowest 20% 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: Poverty. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Of the Nordic countries, Sweden has had the highest at-risk-of-poverty rate in the entire observed period. In 2024, 13.9 percent of Sweden's population lived at risk of poverty. Since 2015, Norway, Denmark, and Finland all have had similar at-risk-of-poverty rates, around 12 percent, although since 2022, Norway's rate has reached below 12 percent.

Denmark DK: Increase in Poverty Gap at $1.90: Poverty Line Due To Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: 2011 PPP: % of Poverty Line data was reported at 0.000 % in 2010. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 1997. Denmark DK: Increase in Poverty Gap at $1.90: Poverty Line Due To Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: 2011 PPP: % of Poverty Line data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2010, with 2 observations. Denmark DK: Increase in Poverty Gap at $1.90: Poverty Line Due To Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: 2011 PPP: % of Poverty Line 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: Poverty. Increase in poverty gap at $1.90 ($ 2011 PPP) poverty line due to out-of-pocket health care expenditure, as a percentage of the $1.90 poverty line; ; Wagstaff et al. Progress on Impoverishing Health Spending: Results for 122 Countries. A Retrospective Observational Study, Lancet Global Health 2017.; Weighted average;

Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 25 to 54 years was 10.70% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 25 to 54 years - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, Denmark - At Risk of Poverty rate: From 25 to 54 years reached a record high of 11.50% in December of 2018 and a record low of 9.60% in December of 2012.