7 answers, 2 from Denmark's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
249,743 students were enrolled in higher education in Denmark on 1 October 2025, according to Statistics Denmark. 73,376 students completed a higher education programme in 2025.
Higher education covers short-cycle, medium-cycle (professional bachelor), bachelor and long-cycle (master's) programmes. Statistics Denmark counts students on 1 October each year and publishes the figures by field of study and institution.
670,009 pupils were in primary and lower secondary education in Denmark in 2025, according to Statistics Denmark. The average class had 20 pupils.
Primary and lower secondary education is the compulsory basic school. Statistics Denmark publishes pupil numbers by type of school, grade and municipality, and class size is the average number of pupils per class.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts net primary school enrolment in Denmark at 98.5% in 2017. The peak was 98.7% in 2016 and the low 95.7% in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 95.7%; Denmark is 9th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 18th of 134.
In 2024, gross secondary school enrolment in Denmark was 125.6%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2015, at 133.8%; its low point was 2009, at 117.1%. It is 4th highest of 34 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 101.1%. World rank, highest first: 5th of 100.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in Denmark at 79.0% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 84.6%; its low point was 2010, at 72.5%. Europe & Central Asia median: 71.1%; Denmark is 11th highest of 34. Of 90 countries with 2024 data, 15th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts government spending on education in Denmark at 6.4% of GDP in 2022. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 4.5% of GDP; Denmark is 5th highest of 45. Of 155 countries with 2022 data, 17th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the primary completion rate in Denmark at 99.7% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 98.5% (2009) to 103.4% (2006). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 98.2%, and Denmark placed 10th highest of 30. Worldwide: 26th of 104.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error