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Denmark

Destination country · migration, permits and visas

Inflow of foreign nationals, 2023 (OECD)
78,559
Largest group, 2023
Ukraine
First residence permits, 2025 (Eurostat)
49,403
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
23.5%
DestinationDK2023–2025
Year by year
Data as at 2025
DS<DKDENMARK<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
DK1<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Who moves to Denmark

Inflows of foreign nationals recorded by Denmark, by nationality (OECD).

Inflows by nationality, 2023
  1. Ukraine8,215
  2. Romania6,129
  3. Germany5,042
  4. Poland4,879
  5. United States4,154
  6. Italy3,424
  7. India3,376
  8. Spain2,288
  9. Iran2,166
  10. Nepal2,149
  11. China2,049
  12. Sweden1,939
  13. Norway1,750
  14. France1,671
  15. Bulgaria1,646
  16. Bangladesh1,613
  17. Portugal1,448
  18. Lithuania1,277
  19. United Kingdom1,207
  20. Netherlands1,165

All inflows by year

50k101k200020032006200920122015201820212023
50k101k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200021,362
200123,167
200220,462
200317,655
200417,801
200519,451
200623,225
200730,628
200836,226
200931,223
201033,199
201134,192
201248,135
201354,235
201463,119
201573,258
201669,481
201765,529
201863,911
201961,515
202047,699
202156,975
2022100,747
202378,559
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Foreign nationals living in Denmark

Stock of foreign nationals by nationality (latest year reported) and acquisitions of Denmark's nationality (OECD).

Foreign nationals, 2024
  1. Poland48,548
  2. Romania45,114
  3. Ukraine42,761
  4. Syria36,286
  5. Germany33,277
  6. Türkiye29,524
  7. Sweden18,648
  8. United Kingdom17,915
  9. Norway17,297
  10. Italy16,746
  11. India16,662
  12. Lithuania15,693
  13. Bulgaria14,017
  14. Iran13,543
  15. China12,105
Acquisitions of nationality by former nationality, 2023
  1. Pakistan213
  2. United Kingdom202
  3. Germany159
  4. Ukraine144
  5. Poland143
  6. Romania131
  7. India130
  8. Sweden129
  9. Norway119
  10. Iran113
  11. Iraq85
  12. Afghanistan83
  13. Türkiye83
  14. Nepal82
  15. United States73

Acquisitions of nationality by year

7,03614k200020032006200920122015201820212023
7,03614k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200012,045
20017,803
20029,970
20033,903
20047,315
20056,046
20067,061
20073,807
20085,640
20095,752
20102,686
20113,566
20123,367
20131,586
20144,464
20153,743
201614,072
20176,761
20182,646
20191,729
20206,626
20216,210
20224,889
20233,152
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

International migrants

People living in Denmark who were born in another country, or who hold foreign citizenship where country of birth is not recorded: mid-year estimates (UN DESA).

Largest countries of birth, 2024
  1. Poland49,767
  2. Germany44,855
  3. Ukraine43,532
  4. Romania40,659
  5. Türkiye35,075
  6. Syria34,528
  7. Sweden26,460
  8. United Kingdom23,607
  9. Iraq21,857
  10. Iran21,174
  11. India20,963
  12. Norway20,886

International migrants by year

424k847k19901995200020052010201520202024
424k847k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990235,918
1995298,278
2000372,128
2005423,167
2010509,751
2015616,741
2020718,856
2024847,475
International migrants, 2024
847,475
Share of the population, 2024
14.2%
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Migrants in the labour market

Labour force survey results for Denmark: residents aged 15 and over who were born abroad, compared with those born in the country (ILOSTAT).

IndicatorBorn in the countryBorn abroad
Employment-to-population ratio, 202560.4%66.8%
Unemployment rate, 20255.5%11.9%
Born abroad: share of all workers, 2025
11.3%
Born abroad: share of high-skill jobs, 2025
10.7%
Born abroad: share of medium-skill jobs, 2025
10.4%
Born abroad: share of elementary jobs, 2025
18.1%
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Earnings by occupation

Mean gross annual earnings of employees in Denmark by major occupation group, in enterprises with 10 or more employees (Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022).

Occupation groupMean annual earnings, DKKIndex, all occupations = 100
All occupations488,205100
Managers892,326183
Professionals571,837117
Technicians and associate professionals541,024111
Clerical support workers430,53988
Service and sales workers340,63370
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers389,69680
Craft and related trades workers455,22893
Plant and machine operators and assemblers445,70891
Elementary occupations351,97272
Mean gross annual earnings, all employees, 2022
488,205 DKK
Women's mean earnings as a share of men's, 2022
81.8%
Source: Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2022

Residence permits

First residence permits issued by Denmark to non-EU citizens (Eurostat).

First permits by year

25k49k2008201020122014201620182020202220242025
25k49k2008201120142017202020232025
Data table
200831,638
200926,398
201028,563
201124,467
201224,493
201330,818
201435,081
201544,281
201640,401
201736,599
201835,091
201934,691
202023,696
202128,037
202240,362
202342,693
202446,901
202549,403
By reason, 2025
  1. Education18,260
  2. Work16,092
  3. Family12,652
  4. Other reasons2,399
By citizenship, 2025
  1. United States8,712
  2. India4,670
  3. Nepal3,375
  4. China2,685
  5. Bangladesh2,678
  6. Philippines2,340
  7. Iran2,249
  8. United Kingdom1,981
  9. Pakistan1,868
  10. Ukraine1,519
  11. Vietnam1,486
  12. Türkiye1,469
  13. Australia1,026
  14. Sri Lanka979
  15. Japan973
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities8,752
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)6,263
  3. Researchers1,077
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
386,622
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
6,258
Changed status into work, 2025
2,126
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Schengen visas issued by Denmark

Short-stay visa applications at Denmark's consulates worldwide.

Applications by year

83k165k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
83k165k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200982,542
201085,646
201194,310
2012100,402
2013105,119
2014109,694
2015123,951
2016145,143
2017152,467
2018164,003
2019165,191
202031,438
202126,469
202273,947
2023107,872
2024132,158
Country of the consulateApplications 2024Refusal rate
China24,55812.5%
India16,5978.4%
United Arab Emirates12,84649.8%
Thailand12,5569.3%
United Kingdom10,83222.1%
Türkiye10,56134.7%
United States5,5488.7%
Indonesia4,6156.3%
Kenya4,59050.5%
Philippines4,53613.6%
Ghana4,10958.8%
Pakistan3,96375.4%
Singapore3,5761.1%
Saudi Arabia2,6449.8%
Denmark2,1890.6%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

National statistics office

Residence permits granted by Denmark, by type of permit (Statistics Denmark).

All by year

63k127k20052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
63k127k200520092013201720212025
Data table
200539,083
200646,364
200758,454
200869,161
200956,790
201058,916
201157,466
201255,659
201364,065
201471,530
201582,817
201678,979
201776,328
201875,940
201973,791
202057,755
202174,647
2022126,720
202396,821
202499,634
2025100,408
By reason, 2025
  1. Work40,254
  2. Study30,327
  3. Family7,760
  4. Protection14,572
  5. Other or unknown7,495
Largest citizenships, 2025
  1. Ukraine15,355
  2. Romania6,473
  3. United States5,877
  4. Germany5,609
  5. India4,915
  6. Italy4,304
  7. Poland3,970
  8. Nepal2,964
  9. United Kingdom2,951
  10. China2,712
  11. Philippines2,651
  12. Spain2,628
  13. Bangladesh2,562
  14. Iran2,272
  15. Pakistan1,954
Work-related by citizenship, 2025
  1. Romania5,181
  2. India3,895
  3. Poland2,781
  4. United Kingdom2,438
  5. Italy1,992
  6. Philippines1,846
  7. China1,500
  8. United States1,342
  9. Ukraine1,308
  10. Germany1,240
  11. Lithuania1,133
  12. Türkiye1,102
  13. Spain1,016
  14. Iran1,012
  15. Bulgaria833
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Denmark's embassies and consulates abroad

Countries in which Denmark has an embassy or consulate, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Albania1——
Azerbaijan1——
Germany—1—
Malaysia1——
Myanmar1——
Rwanda1——
Senegal1——
Somalia1——
Countries
8
Missions
8
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances sent abroad

Personal remittances paid from Denmark to other countries, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances paid by year, US$ million

2,7475,4942000200320062009201220152018202120242025
2,7475,494200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000662
2001745
2002860
20031,029
20041,226
20051,512
20061,775
20073,054
20084,025
20093,391
20102,833
20113,148
20122,979
20133,059
20143,172
20152,781
20162,914
20173,141
20183,393
20193,363
20203,402
20213,723
20223,860
20234,417
20244,848
20255,494
Remittances paid, 2025
US$5,494 million
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Corridors into Denmark

Nationalities with a dedicated corridor page.

  • United States → Denmark
  • India → Denmark
  • Ukraine → Denmark
  • Nepal → Denmark
  • Romania → Denmark
  • China → Denmark
  • Bangladesh → Denmark
  • Germany → Denmark
  • Poland → Denmark
  • Philippines → Denmark
  • Iran → Denmark
  • United Kingdom → Denmark
  • Pakistan → Denmark
  • Italy → Denmark
  • Vietnam → Denmark
  • Türkiye → Denmark
  • United Arab Emirates → Denmark
  • Thailand → Denmark
  • Spain → Denmark
  • Australia → Denmark
  • Sri Lanka → Denmark
  • Japan → Denmark
  • Uganda → Denmark
  • Canada → Denmark
  • Sweden → Denmark
  • Norway → Denmark
  • France → Denmark
  • Bulgaria → Denmark
  • Brazil → Denmark
  • Portugal → Denmark
  • Lithuania → Denmark
  • Netherlands → Denmark
  • Afghanistan → Denmark
  • Hungary → Denmark
  • Argentina → Denmark
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more