Odense: population and official figures

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Odense: People aged 15 and over in the municipality of Odense had an average disposable income of DKK 257,928 in 2024, after tax and interest, below the national figure of DKK 287,682; that is the lowest of 7 large municipalities covered here, up 28% from DKK 201,180 in 2015.
• Health in Odense: 47.4% of residents of the municipality of Odense had at least one hospital stay in 2025, below the national figure of 48.4%; that is 3rd highest of 7 large municipalities covered here, down from 48.5% in 2017.
• Education in Odense: Higher education was the highest level reached by 52.6% of adults aged 25-64 in Odense in 2025, 4th highest of 7 large municipalities covered here, up from 41.0% in 2015.
• Poverty and living standards in Odense: Cash benefits (kontanthjælp) reached 4.0% of residents aged 15+ in Odense in 2025 (2nd highest of 7 large municipalities covered here; Denmark: 3.1%), down from 6.7% in 2015.

Who runs Odense?

In Denmark, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Municipal council elected every four years; council elects the mayor (borgmester) from its members. Schools, childcare, elderly care, social services, job centres, local roads, planning. They set local income tax rates.

How local power works in Denmark

Cities of a similar size in Denmark

• Kobenhavn 638,790
• Århus 352,315
• Ålborg 219,476
• Vejle 118,028
• Esbjerg 115,529
• Frederiksberg 102,940

Up a level: all cities in Denmark · Denmark · government and power

Sources

• Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik): Hospital utilisation in the population by municipality, hospital stays, age and sex (StatBank table SBR01), 2017-2025, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c9ba6dfacefd…)
• Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
• Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik): Educational attainment of 15-69 year-olds by region and municipality, highest education completed, age and sex (StatBank table HFUDD11), 2015-2025, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9d33b2e294ed…)
• Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik): Income of persons by province and municipality, sex and type of income (StatBank table INDKP101), 2015-2025, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6677ce260d4f…)

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