Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Denmark
Denmark: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 32.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Denmark, 2016–2020
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Denmark recorded 32.5% for public sector employment as a share of total employment in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 5.7% over five years.
Denmark ranks 5th of 79 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 34.5% | — |
| 2017 | 33.4% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 33.7% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 32.9% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 32.5% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 33.6% | 32.9% | 34.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 32.5% | 32.5% | 32.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
- 2 Russian Federation 44.9%
- 3 Ukraine 38.7%
- 4 Belgium 35.8% compare
- 6 Luxembourg 31.5% compare
- 7 Republic of Moldova 30.3%
- 8 Iceland 29.9%
More work & labour data for Denmark
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1261 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1196 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1326 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.51 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3351 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,829 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 485.03 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,899 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,964 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public sector employment as a share of total employment in Denmark?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Denmark was 32.5% in 2020, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 34.5% in 2016.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.5% in 2020.
- How does Denmark rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Denmark ranks 5th out of 79 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.