Unemployment rate in Denmark
Denmark: Unemployment rate was 5.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Denmark, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Denmark is 5.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Denmark peaked at 10.7% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2008.
That places Denmark 84th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.1% | — |
| 1992 | 9.0% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 10.7% | +18.7% |
| 1994 | 8.0% | -25.0% |
| 1995 | 7.0% | -13.0% |
| 1996 | 6.8% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | -21.1% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 4.5% | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | +26.3% |
| 2004 | 5.2% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | -7.2% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | -19.3% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 6.4% | +74.0% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | +20.9% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 6.9% | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 6.3% | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 6.0% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | +14.9% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | +5.2% |
| 2025 | 5.5% | +3.2% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 5.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 5.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +74.0% | 3.7% | 6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.4% | 5.0% | 10.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 3.7% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 5.0% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 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 unemployment rate in Denmark?
- Unemployment rate in Denmark was 5.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 10.7% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2008.
- How does Denmark rank for unemployment rate?
- Denmark ranks 84th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.