Nearly half of all residents in Denmark’s crisis centres between 2017 and 2024 were children under the age of 18, according to new data from Danmarks Statistik. The figures show that 13,200 children were registered at least once during that period, compared to 14,300 adults.
Crisis centres in Denmark are designed to offer shelter and support to individuals over 18 who have experienced violence from a partner or other close relation. While the system officially targets adults, the presence of children—often accompanying a parent fleeing violence—is nearly as common as that of adults themselves.
Most children are very young
A striking aspect of the data is the age distribution: about 30% of the children who came to a crisis centre were aged 0 to 2 years, and half were aged six or younger at the time of their first stay. When children are involved, stays tend to be longer and more complex.
According to Statistics Denmark, 56% of stays involving children lasted more than a month, compared to 49% of stays without children. Additionally, families with children were more likely to move between multiple centres: 11% of such stays began the same day a previous stay ended, versus just 7% for childless adults.
Most families bring one or two children
In most cases, adults came to the centres with one child (46%) or two children (37%). However, over 1,600 recorded stays involved three or more children. This highlights the significant presence of young dependents in spaces meant to offer refuge from domestic violence.
As Silas Turner, a senior analyst at Statistics Denmark, noted: “Crisis centres are meant for adults, but the number of children who accompany their parents shows that support must also include child-focused services, such as psychological care.”
A political context of tightening rules
The publication of these figures comes amid a heated political debate in Denmark around immigration and asylum policies. Several political parties have been pushing for stricter regulations on who can seek refuge in the country, often criticising refugee families and portraying them as a strain on the welfare system.
However, the new data reveals that a large proportion of those seeking safety are children, many of them infants. This complicates the often simplistic framing of refugees as adults intentionally “abusing” Denmark’s social structures. Instead, it underscores the vulnerability and dependency of a significant portion of those who end up in crisis shelters.
In July 2024, Denmark extended the right to crisis centre accommodation to men exposed to domestic violence, who can now also bring their children. Previously, only women were included in the statistics.
Broader implications for social policy
These findings raise important questions about how Denmark’s support structures address family needs in times of crisis. While the political debate often focuses on eligibility and access, the lived reality inside crisis centres reflects complex patterns of vulnerability that include not only battered adults but their young children.
The issue will be discussed at the upcoming Folkemødet political festival on Bornholm on 12 June, where officials from Statistics Denmark and child welfare experts will explore how society can better support children in crisis situations.
