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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Denmark was 6,009,169 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Denmark's population is 6,042,125 people compared to 122,704,252 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 -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Denmark has increased from 5.44M people to 6.04M (11.1% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Denmark vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Denmark
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Denmark Japan
2100 5,884,686 76,995,942
2099 5,892,325 77,380,486
2098 5,899,695 77,759,557
2097 5,907,465 78,135,569
2096 5,914,749 78,515,892
2095 5,922,245 78,892,606
2094 5,930,321 79,267,768
2093 5,938,280 79,645,584
2092 5,946,384 80,025,578
2091 5,954,679 80,401,222
2090 5,963,266 80,778,500
2089 5,971,713 81,158,413
2088 5,979,364 81,539,639
2087 5,987,402 81,926,401
2086 5,995,064 82,322,612
2085 6,002,549 82,727,738
2084 6,009,275 83,141,354
2083 6,015,700 83,562,394
2082 6,021,123 83,998,809
2081 6,025,161 84,447,888
2080 6,029,023 84,918,455
2079 6,032,690 85,406,042
2078 6,035,675 85,916,840
2077 6,038,686 86,453,316
2076 6,042,135 87,012,155
2075 6,044,653 87,597,053
2074 6,047,076 88,209,803
2073 6,049,937 88,854,316
2072 6,051,777 89,519,055
2071 6,053,762 90,204,314
2070 6,056,217 90,919,143
2069 6,059,011 91,645,589
2068 6,062,068 92,388,299
2067 6,065,624 93,133,993
2066 6,069,342 93,889,902
2065 6,074,204 94,654,259
2064 6,079,063 95,412,429
2063 6,083,788 96,169,244
2062 6,088,960 96,924,236
2061 6,093,987 97,675,525
2060 6,099,487 98,422,553
2059 6,104,417 99,166,038
2058 6,109,049 99,890,950
2057 6,114,183 100,607,740
2056 6,119,717 101,318,164
2055 6,125,235 102,012,184
2054 6,129,783 102,706,063
2053 6,134,472 103,381,833
2052 6,138,153 104,059,800
2051 6,141,878 104,729,745
2050 6,145,108 105,400,477
2049 6,147,694 106,076,354
2048 6,149,633 106,754,699
2047 6,151,452 107,442,881
2046 6,153,140 108,139,155
2045 6,153,542 108,844,934
2044 6,154,289 109,553,441
2043 6,154,449 110,269,851
2042 6,154,439 110,992,599
2041 6,154,049 111,729,216
2040 6,152,639 112,463,507
2039 6,151,105 113,200,859
2038 6,147,975 113,940,856
2037 6,145,003 114,687,611
2036 6,140,920 115,436,359
2035 6,135,972 116,187,949
2034 6,129,715 116,936,734
2033 6,122,663 117,678,572
2032 6,115,251 118,419,247
2031 6,105,748 119,153,646
2030 6,095,292 119,882,512
2029 6,082,914 120,600,781
2028 6,068,364 121,314,239
2027 6,051,324 122,015,984
2026 6,032,411 122,704,252
2025 6,009,169 123,366,734
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 314,115 people (a 5.48% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% 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 1.7% to 6,145,108 people with a rank change from 114th to 120th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 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 0.54% -0.49%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Denmark grew by 0.54%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Denmark Japan
Current population
6042125
122704252
Population rank 114/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 1.48%
One net population change
16.4 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
9.26 minutes
44.6 seconds
One death every
9.26 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +88 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +32,177 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +0.54% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 126/197 183/197
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 0 25,639 -942,213 153,357
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 14% of the population change in Denmark is from natural causes (a gain of 46,182 people) and 86% is from migration (a gain of 283,245 people). In Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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
Esbjerg 71.6K
Randers 64.7K
Horsens 64.4K
Kolding 63.6K
Vejle 62K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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