Current political situation
The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) is the legislative assembly in Denmark, which means that it passes the acts that apply in Denmark. Folketinget is also responsible for adopting the state's budgets, approving the state's accounts, exercising control of the government and taking part in international cooperation.
Folketinget comprises 179 members, including two members from Greenland and two members from the Faroe Islands. The parties in the Folketing appear from the table below.
Distribution of the members of Folketinget
Party | Seats |
The Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokratiet) | 49 |
The Liberal Party (Venstre) | 39 |
The Green Left (Socialistisk Folkeparti) | 15 |
The Social Liberal Party (Radikale Venstre) | 14 |
The Conservative Party (Det Konservative Folkeparti) | 13 |
The Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) | 12 |
The Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti) | 5 |
The New Right (Nye Borgerlige) | 4 |
The Independent Greens (Frie Grønne) | 3 |
The Liberal Alliance (Liberal Alliance) | 3 |
The Alternative (Alternativet) | 1 |
The Christian Democrats (Kristendemokraterne) | 1 |
The Moderates (Moderaterne) | 1 |
Danmarksdemokraterne | 1 |
Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut, Sambandsflokkurin, Javnaðarflokkurin | 4 |
For information that is more detailed (in Danish), please visit: Distribution of mandates.
After the 2019 election, the Social Democratic Party formed a one-party minority government. The government holds 49 out of 179 seats in Folketinget and has 20 ministers.
Current economic situation
According to Eurostat, the Danish GDP was 57,520 € per capita in 2021. The Danish GDP is among the highest in the European Union where the average was 32,320 € per capita in 2021.
Gross domestic product at market prices
GDP per capita | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Current prices, euro per capita | 45,530 | 46,100 | 47,090 | 48,050 | 49,420 | 51,140 | 52,180 | 53,210 | 53,480 | 57,520 |
Source: Eurostat: Gross domestic product at market prices.
In 2021, the annual growth in GDP was 4.9 per cent in relation to the previous period (2020). Like many other countries, Denmark felt the effects of the financial crisis in 2008 and the Covid-19 crisis in 2020. Thus, growth rates were low in the years following 2008 and in 2020. However, an annual growth in GDP of 4.9 per cent in 2021 shows a positive development in the Danish economy.
Real GDP growth (annual, per cent)
Source: Statistics Denmark.
According to OECD’s Education at a Glance 2021, 5.2 per cent of the Danish GDP was spent on education from primary to tertiary education:
- 1.7 per cent was spent on all primary education;
- 1.7 per cent was spent on all secondary education;
- 1.7 per cent was spent on all tertiary education.
The figure below shows the total expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP in which Denmark lies above the OECD average.
Total expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2021: OECD Indicators. Figure C2.1.
Educational attainment level of the adult population
The table below shows the educational attainment of 25-64-year-olds in 2020.
Education attainment of 25-64-year-olds
Primary and lower secondary level | 18 % |
Upper secondary level | 41 % |
Short cycle tertiary level | 5 % |
Bachelor’s or equivalent level | 20 % |
Master’s or equivalent level | 14 |
Doctoral or equivalent level | 1 % |
Note: Year of reference differs from 2020: 2019 for Denmark.
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2021: OECD Indicators. Table A1.1.
The table below shows the percentage of 25-34-year-olds with a given level of education as the highest level attained in 2010 and 2020.
Trends in educational attainment of 25-34-year-olds, by gender (2010 and 2020)
| Below upper secondary education | Upper secondary education | Higher education | |||
2010 | 2020 | 2010 | 2020 | 2010 | 2020 | |
Men | 23 % | 20 % | 46 % | 42 % | 30 % | 39 % |
Women | 17 % | 15 % | 38 % | 29 % | 45 % | 56 % |
In total | 20 % | 18 % | 42 % | 35 % | 38 % | 47 % |
Note: Year of reference differs from 2020: 2019 for Denmark.
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2021: OECD Indicators. Table A1.2.
The table shows that an increasing share of 25-34-year-olds has completed an education at higher educational level. In 2010, 38 per cent had a higher educational degree, whereas in 2020 it was 47 per cent. Both the share of 25-34-year-olds whose highest level attained is below upper secondary education, and the share of 25-34-year-olds whose highest level attained is upper secondary education, has decreased from 2010 to 2020.
References
Bibliography
Eurostat, 2022: Gross domestic product at market prices. [Accessed 2 August 2022]
Folketinget, 2022: The Distribution of Mandates (Mandatfordelingen). [Accessed 2 August 2022]
Ministry of Finance (Finansministeriet), 2022: Economic Statement (Økonomisk redegørelse). [Accessed 3 August 2022]
OECD, 2021: Education at a Glance 2021: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing, Paris. [Accessed 8 August 2022]
Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik), 2022: Public Finances (Offentlige finanser). [Accessed 3 August 2022]