Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Denmark
Denmark: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 5.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Denmark, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Denmark is 5.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Denmark peaked at 8.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2025.
That places Denmark 174th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.9% | — |
| 1992 | 8.8% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 8.8% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 8.0% | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 7.6% | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 7.4% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 7.0% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 6.8% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 6.7% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 6.7% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 6.4% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 6.0% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 6.3% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | -8.1% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -3.0% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 5.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 57% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 5.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.3%, 48% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.0% | 7.2% | 8.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 6.6% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 5.9% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.4% | 6.3% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Denmark?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Denmark was 5.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 8.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2025.
- How does Denmark rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Denmark ranks 174th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).