Country statistics

5 out of 189 in Human Development Index rankings (UNDP, 2022) 

Average annual salary per person $73,340 (World Bank, 2023) 

A national survey of homelessness is conducted every two years. 

Bordering the Baltic and North Seas and Germany, Denmark is a low and flat country in Northern Europe. It’s position and low profile makes flooding a threat (CIA World Factbook).  

Despite its high-income, trade-oriented economy and strong fiscal position - it has an HCI (Human Capital Index) of 0.8 (this is ranked between 0-1) (Our World In Data) - Denmark still has 8% of people who are at risk of poverty and 9.7% are financially vulnerable. The Danish Government aims to cut rates of poverty in half by 2030 (Danish Government, 2023).  

More than 31,000 people migrated to Denmark in 2023, with the majority of refugees coming from Ukraine, Syria and Eritrea. This was a substantial decline from a peak of 60,219 people who arrived in the country in 2022 (World Bank, 2023). In 2020, the country reported 1,515 registered asylum-seekers – the fewest in 20 years (Danish Government). 

Homelessness in Denmark is defined as, ‘those who do not have their own (owned or rented) accommodation or room, but who are referred to temporary or who live temporarily without a contract with family, friends, or acquaintances. Homeless persons are also defined as without a place to stay for the coming night.’  

Of 5,789 individuals recorded as homeless in 2022, 23% were women. A national survey of homelessness is conducted every two years and a strategy - National Agreement on Affordable Housing and the Effort to Combat Homelessness - is in place (Danish Government). 

In Copenhagen, homelessness in the city is de facto illegal - the homeless are not allowed to stay on the street or walk around ‘without a purpose’ in the city (FEANTSA, 2023). In the country as a whole, people in shelters in 2023 comprised 1,808 (women) and 5,416 (men) (DST, 2024).  

From 2009-13, the Danish Government implemented Housing First with four main goals: no person should live a life on the street; young people should have an alternative solution to homeless hostels; a stay in a care home or shelter should last no longer than 3-4 months, those who can move out on their own with the necessary support should; and prison releases and hospital discharges should only happen when there is an accommodation solution in place. Since October 2023, key elements of Housing First have been part of national Danish legislation (Housing First).