Denmark: health and care

What is life expectancy in Denmark?

Life expectancy at birth in Denmark was 80.3 years for boys and 83.9 years for girls in 2024-2025, according to Statistics Denmark.

Life expectancy is the number of years a newborn would live if the death rates of the period stayed the same throughout their life. Statistics Denmark calculates it for two-year periods. It is a summary of current mortality, not a forecast of how long today's babies will actually live.

Official sources: Statistics Denmark: life expectancy

What is the fertility rate in Denmark?

Denmark's total fertility rate was 1,506 children per 1,000 women in 2025, or about 1.5 children per woman, according to Statistics Denmark.

The total fertility rate is the number of children 1,000 women would have if they experienced that year's birth rates at each age. A rate of about 2,100 per 1,000 women is usually needed to keep a population stable without migration. Measuring per 1,000 women makes comparisons between years more reliable than counting births.

Official sources: Statistics Denmark: fertility

How many people die in Denmark each year?

58,185 people died in Denmark in 2025, according to Statistics Denmark. The population was 6,038,638 in September 2026, according to the population figures.

The number of deaths depends on the size and age of the population as well as on health. Statistics Denmark publishes deaths by age, sex and region. Life expectancy at birth was 80.3 years for boys and 83.9 years for girls in 2024-2025.

Official sources: Statistics Denmark: deaths · Statistics Denmark: population figures

What is the average life expectancy in Denmark?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Denmark was 82.3 years in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 79.5 years; Denmark is 18th highest of 52. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 27th highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Denmark?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Denmark was 3.5 per 1,000 in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.3 per 1,000 (2019) to 4.1 per 1,000 (2005). It is 23rd highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.4 per 1,000. Worldwide: 159th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Denmark?

4.0 per 100,000: that is the maternal mortality ratio in Denmark for 2023, according to the WHO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 6.0 per 100,000; Denmark is 36th highest of 51. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 171st highest.

What share of GDP does Denmark spend on health care?

According to the WHO, current health spending in Denmark was 9.4% of GDP in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 10.7% of GDP; its low point was 2005, at 9.1% of GDP. Europe & Central Asia median: 9.4% of GDP; Denmark is 9th highest of 17.

How much do people in Denmark pay for health care themselves?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 13.9%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 13.2% (2022) to 14.7% (2005). It is 10th highest of 17 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 14.1%.

How many doctors per person does Denmark have?

In 2021, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Denmark was 4.5 per 1,000, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 10th highest of 44 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.7 per 1,000. Worldwide: 13th of 123.

What is hospital capacity in Denmark?

2.4 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Denmark for 2023, according to the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.2 per 1,000, and Denmark placed 23rd highest of 23. Of 73 countries with 2023 data, 41st highest.

How many children in Denmark are vaccinated against measles?

94.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Denmark for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. Since 2005 it has ranged from 84.0% (2009) to 97.0% (2017). Europe & Central Asia median: 94.0%; Denmark is 24th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 68th of 191.