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Population in Denmark compared to Japan: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Denmark was 5,976,992 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Denmark's population is 6,032,403 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 20.3 times bigger than Denmark's.
  • Denmark is ranked the 114th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 0.07% for Denmark vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Denmark has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Denmark has increased from 5.44M people to 6.03M (10.9% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Denmark vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Denmark
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Denmark Japan
2100 5,879,692 76,978,998
2099 5,887,324 77,363,458
2098 5,894,688 77,742,445
2097 5,902,451 78,118,375
2096 5,909,729 78,498,614
2095 5,917,219 78,875,245
2094 5,925,288 79,250,325
2093 5,933,241 79,628,057
2092 5,941,337 80,007,967
2091 5,949,626 80,383,529
2090 5,958,205 80,760,724
2089 5,966,645 81,140,553
2088 5,974,290 81,521,696
2087 5,982,321 81,908,373
2086 5,989,976 82,304,497
2085 5,997,455 82,709,534
2084 6,004,175 83,123,058
2083 6,010,595 83,544,006
2082 6,016,013 83,980,325
2081 6,020,048 84,429,305
2080 6,023,906 84,899,768
2079 6,027,570 85,387,247
2078 6,030,553 85,897,934
2077 6,033,561 86,434,291
2076 6,037,007 86,993,007
2075 6,039,523 87,577,777
2074 6,041,944 88,190,392
2073 6,044,803 88,834,763
2072 6,046,641 89,499,356
2071 6,048,624 90,184,464
2070 6,051,078 90,899,136
2069 6,053,869 91,625,421
2068 6,056,924 92,367,969
2067 6,060,476 93,113,499
2066 6,064,191 93,869,240
2065 6,069,049 94,633,430
2064 6,073,904 95,391,433
2063 6,078,625 96,148,081
2062 6,083,792 96,902,907
2061 6,088,815 97,654,031
2060 6,094,310 98,400,894
2059 6,099,236 99,144,216
2058 6,103,864 99,868,968
2057 6,108,995 100,585,601
2056 6,114,524 101,295,868
2055 6,120,037 101,989,736
2054 6,124,581 102,683,462
2053 6,129,266 103,359,083
2052 6,132,944 104,036,901
2051 6,136,666 104,706,698
2050 6,139,893 105,377,283
2049 6,142,477 106,053,011
2048 6,144,414 106,731,207
2047 6,146,231 107,419,237
2046 6,147,918 108,115,358
2045 6,148,320 108,820,982
2044 6,149,066 109,529,333
2043 6,149,226 110,245,586
2042 6,149,216 110,968,174
2041 6,148,827 111,704,629
2040 6,147,418 112,438,759
2039 6,145,884 113,175,948
2038 6,142,758 113,915,783
2037 6,139,788 114,662,374
2036 6,135,708 115,410,956
2035 6,130,764 116,162,381
2034 6,124,513 116,911,001
2033 6,117,467 117,652,676
2032 6,110,061 118,393,188
2031 6,100,566 119,127,425
2030 6,090,119 119,856,131
2029 6,077,752 120,574,242
2028 6,063,214 121,287,543
2027 6,046,188 121,989,133
2026 6,027,292 122,677,250
2025 6,004,069 123,339,586
2024 5,976,992 123,975,371
2023 5,946,952 124,516,650
2022 5,903,037 125,124,989
2021 5,856,733 125,681,593
2020 5,831,404 126,261,000
2019 5,814,422 126,633,000
2018 5,793,636 126,811,000
2017 5,764,980 126,972,000
2016 5,728,010 127,076,000
2015 5,683,483 127,141,000
2014 5,643,475 127,276,000
2013 5,614,932 127,445,000
2012 5,591,572 127,629,000
2011 5,570,572 127,833,000
2010 5,547,683 128,070,000
2009 5,523,095 128,047,000
2008 5,493,621 128,063,000
2007 5,461,438 128,001,000
2006 5,437,272 127,854,000
2005 5,419,432 127,773,000
2004 5,404,523 127,761,000
2003 5,390,574 127,718,000
2002 5,375,931 127,445,000
2001 5,358,783 127,149,000
2000 5,339,616 126,843,000
1999 5,321,799 126,631,000
1998 5,304,219 126,400,000
1997 5,284,991 126,057,000
1996 5,263,074 125,757,000
1995 5,233,373 125,472,000
1994 5,206,180 125,178,000
1993 5,188,628 124,829,000
1992 5,171,370 124,425,000
1991 5,154,298 123,964,000
1990 5,140,939 123,478,000
1989 5,132,594 123,069,000
1988 5,129,516 122,578,000
1987 5,127,024 122,069,000
1986 5,120,534 121,482,000
1985 5,113,691 120,837,000
1984 5,111,619 120,083,000
1983 5,114,297 119,307,000
1982 5,117,810 118,480,000
1981 5,121,572 117,661,000
1980 5,123,027 116,807,000
1979 5,116,801 115,890,000
1978 5,104,248 114,913,000
1977 5,088,419 113,872,000
1976 5,072,596 112,775,000
1975 5,059,862 111,573,000
1974 5,045,297 110,162,000
1973 5,021,861 108,707,000
1972 4,991,596 107,188,000
1971 4,963,126 105,697,000
1970 4,928,757 103,403,000
1969 4,891,860 102,219,000
1968 4,864,883 101,011,000
1967 4,835,354 99,879,000
1966 4,797,381 98,851,000
1965 4,759,012 97,952,000
1964 4,722,072 96,903,000
1963 4,684,483 95,900,000
1962 4,647,727 94,933,000
1961 4,611,687 94,055,000
1960 4,579,603 93,216,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/denmark/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Denmark increased by 290,738 people (a 5.35% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Denmark gained 304,393 people (a 5.31% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Denmark was ranked 108th most populous country in 2006 and is 114th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Denmark's population will grow by 1.78% to 6,139,893 people with a rank change from 114th to 120th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Denmark is projected to reach its peak in 2043 at 6.15M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Denmark
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Denmark Japan
2100 -0.13% -0.5%
2099 -0.12% -0.49%
2098 -0.13% -0.48%
2097 -0.12% -0.48%
2096 -0.13% -0.48%
2095 -0.14% -0.47%
2094 -0.13% -0.47%
2093 -0.14% -0.47%
2092 -0.14% -0.47%
2091 -0.14% -0.47%
2090 -0.14% -0.47%
2089 -0.13% -0.47%
2088 -0.13% -0.47%
2087 -0.13% -0.48%
2086 -0.12% -0.49%
2085 -0.11% -0.5%
2084 -0.11% -0.5%
2083 -0.09% -0.52%
2082 -0.07% -0.53%
2081 -0.06% -0.55%
2080 -0.06% -0.57%
2079 -0.05% -0.59%
2078 -0.05% -0.62%
2077 -0.06% -0.64%
2076 -0.04% -0.67%
2075 -0.04% -0.69%
2074 -0.05% -0.73%
2073 -0.03% -0.74%
2072 -0.03% -0.76%
2071 -0.04% -0.79%
2070 -0.05% -0.79%
2069 -0.05% -0.8%
2068 -0.06% -0.8%
2067 -0.06% -0.81%
2066 -0.08% -0.81%
2065 -0.08% -0.79%
2064 -0.08% -0.79%
2063 -0.08% -0.78%
2062 -0.08% -0.77%
2061 -0.09% -0.76%
2060 -0.08% -0.75%
2059 -0.08% -0.73%
2058 -0.08% -0.71%
2057 -0.09% -0.7%
2056 -0.09% -0.68%
2055 -0.07% -0.68%
2054 -0.08% -0.65%
2053 -0.06% -0.65%
2052 -0.06% -0.64%
2051 -0.05% -0.64%
2050 -0.04% -0.64%
2049 -0.03% -0.64%
2048 -0.03% -0.64%
2047 -0.03% -0.64%
2046 -0.007% -0.65%
2045 -0.01% -0.65%
2044 -0.003% -0.65%
2043 0% -0.65%
2042 0.006% -0.66%
2041 0.02% -0.65%
2040 0.02% -0.65%
2039 0.05% -0.65%
2038 0.05% -0.65%
2037 0.07% -0.65%
2036 0.08% -0.65%
2035 0.1% -0.64%
2034 0.12% -0.63%
2033 0.12% -0.63%
2032 0.16% -0.62%
2031 0.17% -0.61%
2030 0.2% -0.6%
2029 0.24% -0.59%
2028 0.28% -0.58%
2027 0.31% -0.56%
2026 0.39% -0.54%
2025 0.45% -0.51%
2024 0.51% -0.43%
2023 0.74% -0.49%
2022 0.79% -0.44%
2021 0.43% -0.46%
2020 0.29% -0.29%
2019 0.36% -0.14%
2018 0.5% -0.13%
2017 0.65% -0.08%
2016 0.78% -0.05%
2015 0.71% -0.11%
2014 0.51% -0.13%
2013 0.42% -0.14%
2012 0.38% -0.16%
2011 0.41% -0.19%
2010 0.45% 0.02%
2009 0.54% -0.01%
2008 0.59% 0.05%
2007 0.44% 0.11%
2006 0.33% 0.06%
2005 0.28% 0.009%
2004 0.26% 0.03%
2003 0.27% 0.21%
2002 0.32% 0.23%
2001 0.36% 0.24%
2000 0.33% 0.17%
1999 0.33% 0.18%
1998 0.36% 0.27%
1997 0.42% 0.24%
1996 0.57% 0.23%
1995 0.52% 0.23%
1994 0.34% 0.28%
1993 0.33% 0.32%
1992 0.33% 0.37%
1991 0.26% 0.39%
1990 0.16% 0.33%
1989 0.06% 0.4%
1988 0.05% 0.42%
1987 0.13% 0.48%
1986 0.13% 0.53%
1985 0.04% 0.63%
1984 -0.05% 0.65%
1983 -0.07% 0.7%
1982 -0.07% 0.7%
1981 -0.03% 0.73%
1980 0.12% 0.79%
1979 0.25% 0.85%
1978 0.31% 0.91%
1977 0.31% 0.97%
1976 0.25% 1.08%
1975 0.29% 1.28%
1974 0.47% 1.34%
1973 0.61% 1.42%
1972 0.57% 1.41%
1971 0.7% 2.22%
1970 0.75% 1.16%
1969 0.55% 1.2%
1968 0.61% 1.13%
1967 0.79% 1.04%
1966 0.81% 0.92%
1965 0.78% 1.08%
1964 0.8% 1.05%
1963 0.79% 1.02%
1962 0.78% 0.93%
1961 0.7% 0.9%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/denmark/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Denmark grew by 0.51%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Denmark Japan
Current population
6032403
122677250
Population rank 114/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 1.48%
One net population change
17.5 minutes
58.3 seconds
One birth every
9.11 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
9.02 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +82 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +30,040 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +0.51% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 132/197 185/197
One migration net change every
23.8 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +22,103 +140,579
Net migration rank 32/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 847,475 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 65/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 46/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Denmark
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Denmark Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 22,103 - 140,579
2024 - 25,639 - 153,357
2023 -595 31,006 -871,617 175,003
2022 -1,180 60,219 -825,825 175,003
2021 5,857 26,887 -640,976 -34,996
2020 5,831 10,851 -542,923 42,001
2019 6,977 9,488 -531,858 318,190
2018 6,373 18,919 -456,520 320,601
2017 8,071 24,561 -406,310 322,564
2016 9,165 33,391 -343,106 314,732
2015 5,683 42,284 -292,424 168,896
2014 5,644 27,242 -267,279 58,109
2013 3,931 21,359 -242,146 66,449
2012 5,592 16,871 -229,733 67,904
2011 6,685 13,495 -204,533 97,720
2010 8,876 17,533 -128,070 131,860
2009 8,285 15,551 -76,828 125,450
2008 10,438 25,775 -51,225 142,605
2007 8,192 20,560 -25,600 138,024
2006 9,787 10,491 12,785 130,065
2005 9,755 6,887 -25,554 113,017
2004 9,188 5,166 76,656 69,014
2003 7,007 7,228 114,946 74,875
2002 5,376 9,629 178,423 60,864
2001 6,967 12,192 203,438 59,563
2000 9,078 10,441 228,317 23,468
1999 6,919 9,520 202,610 56,901
1998 7,956 11,098 265,440 45,912
1997 7,927 12,269 277,325 43,366
1996 6,842 17,534 314,392 25,030
1995 6,280 28,958 276,039 87,714
1994 8,850 10,766 363,017 154,214
1993 4,670 11,411 312,073 168,836
1992 6,722 11,937 360,833 170,878
1991 4,639 10,827 396,685 161,331
1990 2,056 8,667 407,478 124,582
1989 2,053 3,720 467,662 31,202
1988 0 677 527,085 51,154
1987 -1,538 6,338 598,138 28,001
1986 -2,561 11,463 631,706 27,987
1985 -4,603 9,957 676,687 -141,323
1984 -5,623 4,325 756,523 -273,686
1983 -6,649 1,952 775,495 -269,755
1982 -2,559 235 805,664 -288,550
1981 -3,073 -1,741 811,861 -278,525
1980 1,537 803 864,372 -92,314
1979 4,605 5,808 950,298 -57,692
1978 9,187 5,678 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 11,703 5,548 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 11,667 3,182 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 20,746 -10,672 1,204,989 107
1974 19,676 -437 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 21,092 7,107 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 24,958 7,053 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 26,801 -1,159 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 22,673 20,947 1,230,496 33,731
1969 23,481 6,687 1,195,962 49,447
1968 27,243 -3,557 1,191,930 43,593
1967 33,363 1,623 1,258,475 29,632
1966 38,858 2,011 682,072 68,934
1965 37,596 -2,098 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 36,832 1,333 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 36,539 594 987,770 -100,742
1962 32,070 3,900 901,864 -57,075
1961 33,205 3,012 893,522 -58,882
1960 32,515 -4,047 894,874 -150,371

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/denmark/japan | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 15.4% of the population change in Denmark is from natural causes (a gain of 51,826 people) and 84.6% is from migration (a gain of 284,848 people). In Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 847,475 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Denmark, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

Denmark
City Population
Copenhagen 667K
Aarhus 291K
Odense 185K
Aalborg 122K
Frederiksberg 106K
Gentofte 75.8K
Esbjerg 71.6K
Randers 64.5K
Horsens 64.4K
Kolding 63.6K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/denmark/japan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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