The number of registered chlamydia infections in Denmark has fallen sharply, reaching the lowest point in ten years. In 2024, just under 30,000 Danes were diagnosed with the sexually transmitted disease, compared to over 37,000 the previous year — a drop of more than 20%, according to recent figures from the Statens Serum Institut (SSI).
While the precise reason for this decline remains unclear, public health experts and sexual education advocates suggest it may be linked to broader social and legal developments, including Denmark’s 2021 consent law (samtykkeloven).
Consent law could be shaping safer sex habits
Introduced in January 2021, the Danish consent law requires that all parties involved in sexual activity give explicit consent, as proposed also in Norway. Though originally designed to strengthen legal protections against sexual assault, the law may also have triggered a cultural shift in how young people approach sex.
“It is speculation, but we believe young people are having safer sex,” said Maria Wessman, section leader at SSI, in an interview with Jyllands-Posten.
Majbrit Berlau, secretary general of the organization Sex & Samfund (Sex & Society), supports this view, suggesting the law has encouraged open conversations about boundaries and contraception.
“We are seeing a generation of pioneers who are engaging in a completely new way of having sex, with much more dialogue,” Berlau told DR.
Such dialogue, she argues, has made it easier for partners to discuss and agree on condom use, which remains the most effective method for preventing sexually transmitted infections.
A cultural shift or just fewer tests?
While the fall in cases is promising, experts caution that the real number of infections may still be significantly higher. Only about 16% of Danes aged 15 to 29 are tested for chlamydia, despite this group accounting for the majority of new cases.
Infections often go unnoticed due to a lack of symptoms. More than half of those infected are asymptomatic, and untreated chlamydia can lead to serious health complications, including infertility.
“Many people don’t get tested unless they experience symptoms,” said Berlau, emphasizing the need for broader awareness and regular testing.
Less sex, more caution?
Another theory suggests that young people are simply having less sex. Minna Brinks Juul, a sexologist and sexual education instructor, believes the consent law may have made some more cautious or hesitant about initiating sexual encounters.
“I think the consent law makes people more reserved and afraid of doing something wrong, so they simply choose not to initiate sex,” she said in an interview with DR.
This cautiousness may explain the reduction in cases, though Berlau contends that the drop is more likely due to improved protective behavior rather than decreased sexual activity.
Nevertheless, international research supports the idea that younger generations are engaging in less sexual activity than previous ones — a trend seen across several Western countries.
Denmark still among Europe’s highest chlamydia rates
Despite the recent decline, Denmark still ranks among the European countries with the highest rates of chlamydia. Experts continue to stress the importance of comprehensive sex education and accessible testing services.
Chlamydia is typically treatable with a single dose of antibiotics. It spreads through unprotected sex, making condom use crucial in prevention efforts.
As Denmark adapts to evolving social norms and legal frameworks, the country may be witnessing not just a statistical dip but a generational transformation in how sex, consent, and protection are understood and practiced.
