Share of workers in informal employment in Denmark

Denmark: Share of workers in informal employment was 2.8% in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
2.8%
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
63rd
of 82 countries
All-time high
10.5%
in 2014
All-time low
2.1%
in 2007
Years of data
13
2007–2019

Share of workers in informal employment in Denmark, 2007–2019

2468102007201320192007: 2.1 %2008: 2.2 %2009: 5.8 %2010: 5.7 %2011: 2.4 %2012: 10.1 %2013: 10.2 %2014: 10.5 %2015: 10.3 %2016: 3.3 %2017: 2.5 %2018: 2.7 %2019: 2.8 %

Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2019, share of workers in informal employment in Denmark stood at 2.8%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and down 51.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Denmark peaked at 10.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2007.

Denmark ranks 63rd of 82 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of workers in informal employment in Denmark, year by year

Annual values for Share of workers in informal employment in Denmark, 2007 to 2019.
Year % Change
2007 2.1% —
2008 2.2% +1.9%
2009 5.8% +167.4%
2010 5.7% -1.7%
2011 2.4% -58.1%
2012 10.1% +321.2%
2013 10.2% +0.8%
2014 10.5% +3.3%
2015 10.3% -2.6%
2016 3.3% -67.8%
2017 2.5% -25.8%
2018 2.7% +9.4%
2019 2.8% +5.2%

Denmark compared with similar countries

  • Denmark's 2.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 1.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
  • Denmark's 2.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Share of workers in informal employment in Denmark changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2012 +321.2% 2.4% 10.1%
2009 +167.4% 2.2% 5.8%
2016 -67.8% 10.3% 3.3%
2011 -58.1% 5.7% 2.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.4% 2.1% 5.8% 3
2010s 6.0% 2.4% 10.5% 10

Countries ranked near Denmark

  1. 60 Lithuania 3.2% compare
  2. 61 France 3.1% compare
  3. 62 Sweden 2.8% compare
  4. 64 Netherlands 2.6% compare
  5. 65 Estonia 2.4% compare
  6. 66 Czechia 2.3% compare

See the full ranking of 82 places →

More work & labour data for Denmark

All data for Denmark →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of workers in informal employment in Denmark?
Share of workers in informal employment in Denmark was 2.8% in 2019, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Denmark?
The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2014.
What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Denmark?
The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2007.
How does Denmark rank for share of workers in informal employment?
Denmark ranks 63rd out of 82 countries with data for 2019.
Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Denmark?
Over the last ten years it is down 51.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Denmark data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of workers in informal employment in Denmark. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/share-in-informal-employment/denmark/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of workers in informal employment
Unit
%
Source
International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
82 places, 1,190 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.