Denmark birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Denmark has a birth rate of 9.7 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.5 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Denmark was 2.57 children per woman — 1.71 times higher than in 2023.

Denmark birth rate statistics:

Denmark is ranked 151/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 190/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Denmark is 30.1 — it was 26.3 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.8, a change from 28.4 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 38.3 in 1960 to 1.14 in 2023.
21.5% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 23.7% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Denmark by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.5	144
2022	1.55	139
2021	1.72	123
2020	1.68	128
2019	1.7	135
2018	1.73	131
2017	1.75	133
2016	1.79	131
2015	1.71	144
2014	1.69	152
2013	1.67	152
2012	1.73	146
2011	1.75	146
2010	1.87	137
2009	1.84	144
2008	1.89	140
2007	1.84	142
2006	1.85	140
2005	1.8	144
2004	1.78	146
2003	1.76	147
2002	1.72	150
2001	1.74	147
2000	1.77	148
1999	1.73	152
1998	1.72	153
1997	1.75	154
1996	1.75	155
1995	1.8	153
1994	1.81	155
1993	1.75	159
1992	1.76	163
1991	1.68	176
1990	1.67	178
1989	1.62	179
1988	1.56	184
1987	1.5	186
1986	1.48	187
1985	1.45	190
1984	1.4	193
1983	1.38	193
1982	1.43	193
1981	1.44	193
1980	1.55	191
1979	1.6	191
1978	1.67	188
1977	1.66	189
1976	1.75	185
1975	1.92	182
1974	1.9	185
1973	1.92	186
1972	2.03	182
1971	2.04	183
1970	1.95	191
1969	2	188
1968	2.12	184
1967	2.35	177
1966	2.62	170
1965	2.61	171
1964	2.6	174
1963	2.67	173
1962	2.55	174
1961	2.55	175
1960	2.57	173

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Denmark was 1.5 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1969. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.75 — a 14.3% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	-595	57,685	58,280
2022	-1,180	58,440	59,620
2021	5,857	63,252	57,395
2020	5,831	60,646	54,815
2019	6,977	61,051	54,074
2018	6,373	61,412	55,039
2017	8,071	61,108	53,037
2016	9,165	61,862	52,697
2015	5,683	57,971	52,288
2014	5,644	56,999	51,355
2013	3,931	56,149	52,218
2012	5,592	58,152	52,560
2011	6,685	59,048	52,363
2010	8,876	63,243	54,367
2009	8,285	62,963	54,678
2008	10,438	64,824	54,386
2007	8,192	63,898	55,706
2006	9,787	65,247	55,460
2005	9,755	64,491	54,736
2004	9,188	64,854	55,666
2003	7,007	64,686	57,679
2002	5,376	63,973	58,597
2001	6,967	65,377	58,410
2000	9,078	67,279	58,201
1999	6,919	65,990	59,071
1998	7,956	66,302	58,346
1997	7,927	67,647	59,720
1996	6,842	67,893	61,051
1995	6,280	69,603	63,323
1994	8,850	69,762	60,912
1993	4,670	67,452	62,782
1992	6,722	67,744	61,022
1991	4,639	64,428	59,789
1990	2,056	63,233	61,177
1989	2,053	61,591	59,538
1988	0	58,989	58,989
1987	-1,538	56,397	57,935
1986	-2,561	55,301	57,862
1985	-4,603	53,693	58,296
1984	-5,623	51,627	57,250
1983	-6,649	50,631	57,280
1982	-2,559	52,713	55,272
1981	-3,073	53,264	56,337
1980	1,537	57,377	55,840
1979	4,605	59,354	54,749
1978	9,187	62,271	53,084
1977	11,703	62,078	50,375
1976	11,667	65,436	53,769
1975	20,746	71,850	51,104
1974	19,676	71,138	51,462
1973	21,092	71,812	50,720
1972	24,958	75,373	50,415
1971	26,801	75,439	48,638
1970	22,673	70,974	48,301
1969	23,481	71,421	47,940
1968	27,243	74,432	47,189
1967	33,363	81,233	47,870
1966	38,858	88,271	49,413
1965	37,596	85,662	48,066
1964	36,832	83,580	46,748
1963	36,539	82,446	45,907
1962	32,070	77,617	45,547
1961	33,205	76,554	43,349
1960	32,515	76,021	43,506

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Denmark (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.09% annually. On average, 5,182 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.01% — 595 more people died than were born.

In 2023, Denmark ranks 163/196 for absolute natural population change and 158/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Denmark compared to other countries

	Denmark	Rank
Fertility rate	1.5	144/196
Birth rate	9.7	151/196
Population change due to births and deaths	-595	163/196
Natural population change rate	-0.01%	158/196
Population growth	+0.51%	132/197
Age at first childbirth	30.1 years	16/137
Average age at childbearing	31.8 years	20/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	0.95	193/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	56.6	165/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	18.8	118/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	21.5%	169/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	59.9%	41/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	95.3%	118/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.004%	173/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.18%	170/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.3%	171/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.34%	168/192
Life expectancy	82.4 years	31/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	19.7	0.95	56.6	18.8
2025	19.6	1	57.3	18.6
2024	19.5	1.06	58.1	18.2
2023	19.3	1.13	58.4	17.9
2022	19.6	1.19	60.1	18
2021	21.6	1.41	66.9	19.6
2020	20.8	1.65	66.4	18.5
2019	20.9	2.05	68.6	18.1
2018	21	2.43	70.3	18
2017	21.1	2.84	72.5	17.8
2016	21.2	3.42	73.2	18
2015	20.2	3.5	70.6	17.3
2014	19.9	3.78	70.2	17.2
2013	19.7	4.18	69.4	17.2
2012	20.4	4.41	73	18
2011	21	4.57	75.3	18.6
2010	22.4	4.99	81.4	20
2009	22.5	5.38	82.7	19.9
2008	23.2	5.75	85.9	20.6
2007	23.1	5.58	85.9	20.4
2006	23.5	5.66	87.8	20.5
2005	23.4	5.53	87.5	20.1
2004	23.6	5.59	88.2	19.8
2003	23.7	5.9	88.5	19.4
2002	23.6	6.38	88.2	18.9
2001	24.1	7.44	91.1	18.6
2000	24.7	7.98	92.6	18.9
1999	24.5	8.22	91.6	18.6
1998	24.6	8.36	91.8	18.4
1997	25.2	8.85	93.8	18.4
1996	25.3	8.53	95.6	17.8
1995	26.1	9.09	100.8	17.7
1994	26.3	9.62	103.1	17
1993	25.6	9.53	102.6	15.8
1992	25.7	9.84	105.6	15.2
1991	24.6	9.19	103.8	13.9
1990	24.3	9.25	103.9	13.2
1989	23.5	9.12	101.6	12.6
1988	22.6	8.96	98.6	11.9
1987	21.6	9.57	95.6	11.1
1986	21.2	10.1	96.3	10.7
1985	20.6	10.5	96.3	10.1
1984	19.9	10.7	94.9	9.45
1983	19.6	10.7	95.5	8.96
1982	20.2	11.9	99.7	8.97
1981	20.5	13.4	102.2	8.85
1980	22	15.8	109.6	9.35
1979	22.9	17.4	114	9.67
1978	23.9	19.6	117.8	9.98
1977	24.1	21.3	116.6	9.94
1976	25.5	23.1	121.7	10.3
1975	28.1	26.4	133.3	10.7
1974	28	25.6	132	10.5
1973	28.4	26	133.9	10.5
1972	29.9	28	141.4	10.8
1971	30.1	29.3	142.4	10.7
1970	28.5	32.3	133.9	10.4
1969	28.9	38.3	133.7	10.7
1968	30.4	44.2	140.8	11.2
1967	33.4	49.4	156.5	12.4
1966	36.4	52.6	172.6	14.3
1965	35.8	50.8	172.4	14.6
1964	35	48	171.5	14.9
1963	34.9	41.6	174.2	16.2
1962	33.1	40.8	167.7	15.5
1961	32.8	40.1	165.9	15.9
1960	32.8	39.5	166	16.4

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Denmark by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 0.27% will be to women under age 20, 36% to women ages 20-29, and 63.8% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 2.62%, 63.7%, and 33.7%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Denmark	World
2100	13.7%	16.5%
2099	13.7%	16.6%
2098	13.7%	16.6%
2097	13.7%	16.7%
2096	13.7%	16.8%
2095	13.7%	16.8%
2094	13.7%	16.9%
2093	13.7%	17%
2092	13.7%	17%
2091	13.7%	17.1%
2090	13.7%	17.2%
2089	13.7%	17.2%
2088	13.7%	17.3%
2087	13.7%	17.4%
2086	13.7%	17.4%
2085	13.8%	17.5%
2084	13.8%	17.5%
2083	13.8%	17.6%
2082	13.8%	17.7%
2081	13.8%	17.7%
2080	13.8%	17.8%
2079	13.9%	17.8%
2078	13.9%	17.9%
2077	13.9%	17.9%
2076	13.9%	18%
2075	14%	18%
2074	14%	18.1%
2073	14%	18.2%
2072	14%	18.2%
2071	14.1%	18.3%
2070	14.1%	18.3%
2069	14.1%	18.4%
2068	14.1%	18.5%
2067	14.1%	18.6%
2066	14.1%	18.6%
2065	14.1%	18.7%
2064	14.2%	18.8%
2063	14.2%	18.9%
2062	14.2%	19.1%
2061	14.2%	19.2%
2060	14.2%	19.3%
2059	14.2%	19.4%
2058	14.2%	19.5%
2057	14.3%	19.6%
2056	14.3%	19.8%
2055	14.3%	19.9%
2054	14.3%	20%
2053	14.4%	20.1%
2052	14.4%	20.2%
2051	14.5%	20.3%
2050	14.5%	20.4%
2049	14.6%	20.5%
2048	14.6%	20.6%
2047	14.6%	20.7%
2046	14.7%	20.8%
2045	14.7%	20.9%
2044	14.8%	20.9%
2043	14.8%	21%
2042	14.9%	21.1%
2041	14.9%	21.2%
2040	14.9%	21.2%
2039	15%	21.3%
2038	15%	21.4%
2037	15%	21.5%
2036	15.1%	21.6%
2035	15.1%	21.8%
2034	15.2%	22%
2033	15.3%	22.2%
2032	15.3%	22.4%
2031	15.4%	22.7%
2030	15.4%	23%
2029	15.4%	23.3%
2028	15.4%	23.6%
2027	15.4%	23.9%
2026	15.5%	24.2%
2025	15.6%	24.6%
2024	15.7%	24.7%
2023	15.9%	25%
2022	16%	25.3%
2021	16.2%	25.6%
2020	16.3%	25.8%
2019	16.4%	26%
2018	16.6%	26.2%
2017	16.7%	26.4%
2016	16.8%	26.5%
2015	16.9%	26.6%
2014	17.1%	26.8%
2013	17.3%	26.9%
2012	17.6%	27%
2011	17.8%	27.1%
2010	18%	27.3%
2009	18.2%	27.5%
2008	18.4%	27.6%
2007	18.5%	27.9%
2006	18.7%	28.1%
2005	18.8%	28.5%
2004	18.8%	28.8%
2003	18.8%	29.2%
2002	18.8%	29.6%
2001	18.7%	30%
2000	18.5%	30.4%
1999	18.3%	30.8%
1998	18.1%	31.1%
1997	17.9%	31.5%
1996	17.6%	31.8%
1995	17.4%	32.1%
1994	17.2%	32.3%
1993	17.1%	32.5%
1992	17%	32.7%
1991	17%	32.9%
1990	17.1%	33%
1989	17.2%	33.2%
1988	17.5%	33.4%
1987	17.7%	33.6%
1986	18.1%	33.8%
1985	18.4%	34%
1984	18.8%	34.3%
1983	19.2%	34.6%
1982	19.7%	34.9%
1981	20.3%	35.2%
1980	20.8%	35.5%
1979	21.3%	35.9%
1978	21.8%	36.3%
1977	22.1%	36.7%
1976	22.4%	36.9%
1975	22.6%	37.1%
1974	22.7%	37.2%
1973	22.9%	37.3%
1972	23%	37.5%
1971	23.1%	37.6%
1970	23.3%	37.7%
1969	23.5%	37.8%
1968	23.7%	37.9%
1967	23.8%	38%
1966	23.8%	38%
1965	23.8%	38%
1964	23.8%	38%
1963	24%	37.8%
1962	24.2%	37.6%
1961	24.7%	37.5%
1960	25.2%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Denmark was 25.2% in 1960, 17% in 1992, and 15.7% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Denmark.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	4	197
2022	6	203
2021	8	242
2020	4	211
2019	4	207
2018	5	211
2017	5	215
2016	5	220
2015	5	228
2014	5	231
2013	5	235
2012	6	239
2011	6	247
2010	7	253
2009	7	258
2008	7	264
2007	7	269
2006	7	276
2005	8	283
2004	8	291
2003	8	301
2002	9	311
2001	9	321
2000	9	328
1999	9	340
1998	9	360
1997	10	358
1996	11	366
1995	12	371
1994	12	382
1993	12	389
1992	12	395
1991	12	395
1990	12	391
1989	13	401
1988	13	414
1987	12	429
1986	12	438
1985	12	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Denmark was 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.004% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 55.6% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Denmark	World
2023	0.34%	2.49%
2022	0.35%	2.59%
2021	0.36%	2.66%
2020	0.37%	2.75%
2019	0.38%	2.86%
2018	0.39%	2.97%
2017	0.4%	3.11%
2016	0.4%	3.22%
2015	0.41%	3.35%
2014	0.41%	3.48%
2013	0.41%	3.61%
2012	0.41%	3.77%
2011	0.41%	3.97%
2010	0.41%	4.11%
2009	0.42%	4.31%
2008	0.43%	4.5%
2007	0.45%	4.7%
2006	0.46%	4.92%
2005	0.48%	5.16%
2004	0.5%	5.43%
2003	0.52%	5.65%
2002	0.54%	5.94%
2001	0.55%	6.21%
2000	0.56%	6.48%
1999	0.57%	6.75%
1998	0.59%	7.05%
1997	0.6%	7.28%
1996	0.63%	7.52%
1995	0.65%	7.76%
1994	0.69%	7.98%
1993	0.74%	8.19%
1992	0.79%	8.46%
1991	0.84%	8.66%
1990	0.89%	8.81%
1989	0.93%	9.02%
1988	0.96%	9.31%
1987	0.97%	9.47%
1986	0.97%	9.81%
1985	0.97%	10.1%
1984	0.96%	10.4%
1983	0.96%	10.6%
1982	0.96%	10.8%
1981	0.98%	11%
1980	1%	11.4%
1979	1.03%	11.7%
1978	1.06%	12.2%
1977	1.11%	12.6%
1976	1.17%	13%
1975	1.23%	13.4%
1974	1.31%	13.8%
1973	1.39%	14.1%
1972	1.49%	14.5%
1971	1.58%	15.1%
1970	1.66%	15.2%
1969	1.73%	15.4%
1968	1.81%	15.6%
1967	1.9%	15.9%
1966	2.01%	16.1%
1965	2.11%	16.4%
1964	2.21%	16.6%
1963	2.3%	16.5%
1962	2.38%	16.7%
1961	2.45%	17%
1960	2.5%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/denmark | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Denmark was 3.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.34% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.