Over the past decade, urban living has become increasingly attractive for Danes, with new data from Danmarks Statistik showing that 42% of the population now resides in cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, up from 37% in 2015. This trend reflects a significant urbanization movement, amounting to a population increase of 376,192 individuals in these larger urban areas.
The growth is particularly evident in mid-sized cities such as Roskilde, Herning, and Silkeborg, all of which surpassed the 50,000-resident threshold between 2015 and 2025. Notably, cities with populations between 50,000 and 99,999 experienced the highest numerical increase, adding 180,854 residents in ten years.
Capital region and major cities continue to expand
The Hovedstadsområdet (Greater Copenhagen Area) remains the most populous region, growing from 1,263,698 in 2015 to 1,396,508 in 2025. Meanwhile, Denmark’s three largest standalone cities — Aarhus, Odense, and Aalborg — collectively reached 608,407 residents by 2025, gaining over 62,500 new inhabitants.
Aarhus alone now hosts over 301,000 residents, reinforcing its position as Denmark’s second-largest city. The capital region continues to benefit from strong infrastructure, educational institutions, and the presence of globally competitive companies, which contribute to its appeal.
Countryside population slowly declining
While cities flourish, rural Denmark is seeing a modest but steady decline. The percentage of the population living in landdistrikter (rural districts) decreased from 12% to 11% between 2015 and 2025. In real numbers, the countryside lost 26,949 residents over the decade, now housing 671,948 people.
Despite this decline, more than half of Denmark’s population — 58% or roughly 3.49 million people — still lives outside the largest urban centres, in towns with fewer than 50,000 residents and in rural areas.
Smaller urban areas also showing growth
Interestingly, not all small towns are shrinking. Urban areas with 5,000 to 9,999 inhabitants experienced a notable rise both in the number of towns (from 53 to 64) and in total population (from 376,438 to 456,195). Towns like Støvring, Ry, Bellinge, and Strøby Egede grew by over 25%, illustrating that small towns with strong local economies and connectivity can still thrive in a shifting demographic landscape.
Economic and structural drivers of urbanization
According to Tore Stramer, chief economist at Dansk Erhverv, the urban shift is not just a demographic trend but an economic one. “There are simply more businesses in and around the larger cities that are strong in the global market,” he notes. This reinforces a concentration of economic opportunity in urban centres, encouraging people to relocate for employment, education, and lifestyle benefits.
Implications for planning and infrastructure
This demographic shift places new demands on urban infrastructure, from housing and transport to schools and healthcare services. Municipalities like Aarhus, Herning and Silkeborg must plan for sustained growth, while rural regions may need to reimagine their role in a more urbanized Denmark.
