Poverty and living standards in Zealand, Denmark: official figures
Disposable household income was 19,600 PPS per person in 2024; 2nd highest of 5 regions in Denmark.
How many people in Zealand are at risk of poverty?
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 14.4% in 2025, against 17.9% for Denmark; the lowest of 5 regions in Denmark.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people get housing benefit in Region Zealand?
In 2025, 12.3% of adults in Zealand received housing benefit to help with rent, 2nd lowest of 5 regions.
Source: Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik) · saved copyHow many people are unemployed in Region Zealand?
Unemployment benefit (dagpenge) went to 3.8% of adults in Zealand during 2025 (the lowest of 5 regions; national figure 4.6%).
Source: Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik) · saved copyHow many people live on benefits in Region Zealand?
Public transfers accounted for 18.8% of residents' total income in Zealand in 2025, 3rd highest of 5 regions (Denmark: 16.7%).
Source: Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik) · saved copyHow many pensioners live in Region Zealand?
In 2025 the state old-age and disability pensions were paid to 32.5% of adults in Zealand, the highest of 5 regions.
Source: Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik) · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Zealand?
The at-risk-of-poverty rate was 9.2% in 2025, measured against 60% of median income in Denmark, compared with 11.8% nationally; the lowest of 5 regions in Denmark. In 2015 it was 7.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Zealand cannot afford basic necessities?
In 2025, 4.9% of residents were severely materially and socially deprived (unable to afford 7 or more of 13 everyday necessities), compared with 4.5% nationally; 2nd highest of 5 regions in Denmark. In 2015 it was 3.6%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in Zealand have nobody in work?
7.4% of people under 65 lived in households where adults worked less than a fifth of their potential in 2025, compared with 9.7% nationally; the lowest of 5 regions in Denmark. In 2015 it was 11.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average income in Zealand?
Disposable household income averaged €27,500 per person in 2024 (Denmark: €28,100); 2nd highest of 5 regions in Denmark. In 2014 it was €19,500.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Zealand use the internet?
96.5% of people used the internet at least once a week in 2025, compared with 98.2% nationally; the lowest of 5 regions in Denmark. In 2015 it was 93.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 91% of households had broadband in 2021. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Zealand compares with other regions
Share of people aged 15+ receiving cash benefits (kontanthjælp) during the year (%) (2025)
Zealand ranks 3 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people aged 15+ receiving cash benefits (kontanthjælp) during the year (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Denmark | 3.5% |
| 2 | Southern Denmark | 3.3% |
| 3 | Zealand | 3.2% |
| 4 | Central Denmark | 3.1% |
| 5 | Capital Region of Denmark | 2.7% |
Share of people aged 15+ receiving housing benefit (%) (2025)
Zealand ranks 4 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people aged 15+ receiving housing benefit (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Denmark | 15.4% |
| 2 | Southern Denmark | 14.9% |
| 3 | Central Denmark | 14.7% |
| 4 | Zealand | 12.3% |
| 5 | Capital Region of Denmark | 12.0% |
Share of people aged 15+ receiving unemployment benefit during the year (%) (2025)
Zealand ranks 5 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people aged 15+ receiving unemployment benefit during the year (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Region of Denmark | 5.1% |
| 2 | North Denmark | 4.9% |
| 3 | Central Denmark | 4.6% |
| 4 | Southern Denmark | 4.4% |
| 5 | Zealand | 3.8% |
Public transfer income as a share of total pre-tax income (%) (2025)
Zealand ranks 3 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Public transfer income as a share of total pre-tax income (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Denmark | 20.2% |
| 2 | Southern Denmark | 19.5% |
| 3 | Zealand | 18.8% |
| 4 | Central Denmark | 18.1% |
| 5 | Capital Region of Denmark | 12.7% |
At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) (2025)
Zealand ranks 5 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Region of Denmark | 12.8% |
| 2 | North Denmark | 12.4% |
| 3 | Central Denmark | 12.3% |
| 4 | Southern Denmark | 11.0% |
| 5 | Zealand | 9.2% |
Severe material and social deprivation rate (2025)
Zealand ranks 2 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Severe material and social deprivation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Denmark | 5.0% |
| 2 | Zealand | 4.9% |
| 3 | Capital Region of Denmark | 4.4% |
| 4 | Southern Denmark | 4.3% |
| 5 | North Denmark | 3.2% |
People in households with very low work intensity (2025)
Zealand ranks 5 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with very low work intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Denmark | 11.2% |
| 2 | Capital Region of Denmark | 9.8% |
| 3 | North Denmark | 9.5% |
| 4 | Southern Denmark | 9.4% |
| 5 | Zealand | 7.4% |
Disposable household income per person (euros) (2024)
Zealand ranks 2 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable household income per person (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Region of Denmark | €30,400 |
| 2 | Zealand | €27,500 |
| 3 | Central Denmark | €27,200 |
| 4 | North Denmark | €26,700 |
| 5 | Southern Denmark | €26,600 |
People who use the internet regularly (2025)
Zealand ranks 5 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who use the internet regularly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Region of Denmark | 99.0% |
| 2 | Southern Denmark | 98.7% |
| 3 | North Denmark | 98.1% |
| 4 | Central Denmark | 97.9% |
| 5 | Zealand | 96.5% |
More on Zealand: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Denmark
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Disposable household income per person (PPS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd6019768e9f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_peps11n: At risk of poverty or social exclusion, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 94dcf245d20e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_broad_h: Households with broadband, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b02c9a1ef222…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_iuse_i: Individuals regularly using the internet by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fb4ff8800853…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_li41: At-risk-of-poverty rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27849ad61b9a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_mdsd18: Severe material and social deprivation rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62e6e6fba571…)
- 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…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_lvhl21n: People living in households with very low work intensity by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8b5e993ae943…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Income of households by NUTS 2 region (euros per inhabitant), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7441dafca51…)
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