Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Denmark
Denmark: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 29.4% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Denmark, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Denmark stood at 29.4%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Denmark peaked at 29.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 23.4%, in 1990.
Denmark ranks 146th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 26.7% | — |
| 1955 | 26.5% | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 27.1% | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 28.5% | +5.5% |
| 1970 | 28.3% | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 26.1% | -7.5% |
| 1980 | 24.2% | -7.3% |
| 1985 | 23.6% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 23.4% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 23.6% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 23.5% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 25.4% | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 26.8% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 28.1% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 29.4% | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26.6% | 26.5% | 26.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 27.8% | 27.1% | 28.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 27.2% | 26.1% | 28.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 23.9% | 23.6% | 24.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 23.5% | 23.4% | 23.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 24.4% | 23.5% | 25.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 27.4% | 26.8% | 28.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More population data for Denmark
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1645 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.61 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 261,283 people (2100)
- Population density 146.58 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2287 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4223 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Denmark?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Denmark was 29.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 29.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.4% in 1990.
- How does Denmark rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Denmark ranks 146th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.