SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Denmark
Denmark: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 6.38 in 2025. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Denmark, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Denmark stood at 6.38.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Denmark peaked at 9.41 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4.42, in 2008.
Denmark ranks 24th of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Denmark, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7.23 | — |
| 2005 | 6.05 | -16.4% |
| 2006 | 5.24 | -13.4% |
| 2007 | 4.89 | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 4.42 | -9.6% |
| 2009 | 6.36 | +43.8% |
| 2010 | 8.64 | +35.9% |
| 2011 | 7.85 | -9.2% |
| 2012 | 9.01 | +14.9% |
| 2013 | 9.41 | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 8.6 | -8.6% |
| 2015 | 7.94 | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 6.61 | -16.8% |
| 2017 | 7.33 | +10.9% |
| 2018 | 6.81 | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 7.01 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 7.26 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 8.54 | +17.6% |
| 2022 | 6.25 | -26.7% |
| 2023 | 6.48 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 6.36 | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 6.38 | +0.3% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 6.38 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 1.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 6.38 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 96% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.7 | 4.42 | 7.23 | 6 |
| 2010s | 7.92 | 6.61 | 9.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.88 | 6.25 | 8.54 | 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 in Denmark?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Denmark was 6.38 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 9.41 in 2013.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.42 in 2008.
- How does Denmark rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Denmark ranks 24th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.