Self-employed persons by occupation in Denmark
Denmark: Self-employed persons by occupation was 207.4 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
207.4 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 9.4%
World rank
29th
of 45 countries
All-time high
278.6 Thousand persons
in 1983
All-time low
207.4 Thousand persons
in 2025
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Denmark, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, self-employed persons by occupation in Denmark stood at 207.4 Thousand persons. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is down 9.4% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in Denmark peaked at 278.6 Thousand persons in 1983 and was at its lowest, 207.4 Thousand persons, in 2025.
Denmark ranks 29th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Denmark, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 278.6 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 254.6 Thousand persons | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 250.3 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 247.2 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 240.9 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 236.8 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 241.9 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 252.1 Thousand persons | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 237.6 Thousand persons | -5.8% |
| 1992 | 232.4 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 229.9 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 212.9 Thousand persons | -7.4% |
| 1995 | 217.7 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 218.9 Thousand persons | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 222.3 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 226 Thousand persons | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 223.9 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 222.1 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 217.6 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 219.3 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 227 Thousand persons | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 216.6 Thousand persons | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 222.2 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 234.2 Thousand persons | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 236.1 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 243.9 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 249.7 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 234.5 Thousand persons | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 234.7 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 237.9 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 235.4 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 233.3 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 231.7 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 230.8 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 221.8 Thousand persons | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 219 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 228.9 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 231.7 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 237.2 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 238.2 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 237 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 229 Thousand persons | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 207.4 Thousand persons | -9.4% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 207.4 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 49% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 207.4 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 43% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 250.04 Thousand persons | 236.8 Thousand persons | 278.6 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 227.37 Thousand persons | 212.9 Thousand persons | 252.1 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 228.87 Thousand persons | 216.6 Thousand persons | 249.7 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 230.8 Thousand persons | 219 Thousand persons | 237.9 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 230.08 Thousand persons | 207.4 Thousand persons | 238.2 Thousand persons | 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 self-employed persons by occupation in Denmark?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Denmark was 207.4 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 278.6 Thousand persons in 1983.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 207.4 Thousand persons in 2025.
- How does Denmark rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Denmark ranks 29th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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