SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Denmark
Denmark: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 6.32 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Denmark, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Denmark recorded 6.32 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Denmark peaked at 6.92 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.43, in 2022.
That places Denmark 29th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Denmark, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 6.92 | — |
| 2015 | 6.28 | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 5.99 | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 5.83 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 5.13 | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 5.02 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 5.64 | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 5.07 | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 4.43 | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 5.09 | +14.9% |
| 2024 | 6.15 | +20.7% |
| 2025 | 6.32 | +2.7% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 6.32 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 1.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 6.32 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.82, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.86 | 5.02 | 6.92 | 6 |
| 2020s | 5.45 | 4.43 | 6.32 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Denmark?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Denmark was 6.32 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 6.92 in 2014.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.43 in 2022.
- How does Denmark rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- Denmark ranks 29th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.