Migrant integration in Denmark

According to Eurostat's Migration and migrant population statistics, as of 1 January 2024, there were about 559 900 third-country nationals (TCNs), representing 9.4% of the population, and another 272 500 EU citizens (4.6%) living in Denmark at the time.

Danish statistics use terms which differ from EU categories. For instance, a person is not considered ‘Danish’ for holding a Danish passport, but rather if they have at least one parent who is a Danish citizen and was born in Denmark. Anyone else is defined as an 'immigrant' or 'descendant', and further divided into two categories: Western and non-Western. In 2021, the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration introduced a new statistical category called MENAPT which specifically refers to Muslim migrants from Africa and the Middle East.

In 2022, according to Danish government statistics, the majority of residence permits were granted for work (24 600), study (15 700) and family reunification (3 400) reasons. Beneficiaries of international protection permits were issued to 1% of newcomers (1 400).

Among Danish citizens (who make up 89.5% of the country’s total population), 74% have Danish origin, while 300 000 obtained Danish citizenship after migrating to Denmark or being born in the country to foreign parents. There are approximately 15 000 adult descendants without Danish citizenship.

Due to increasingly strict naturalisation requirements, the number of people living in Denmark without Danish citizenship is rising sharply. In 2022, the number of new citizens dropped to its lowest level in 40 years, with only 1 400 people being granted citizenship that year.

As of the end of January 2025, Denmark was hosting a total of 34 675 non-EU citizens who have fled the war against Ukraine and are under the temporary protection – see monthly updates in the numbers of temporary protection beneficiaries on Eurostat.

The OECD/EC Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2023: Settling In report provides further breakdowns of the composition of migrant populations and households in Denmark, including in terms of immigration flows by legal category, concentration in densely populated areas, duration of stay and household composition.

In Denmark, integration policies operate at both national and local level. The first significant institutional development occurred with the Integration Act, adopted on 1 January 1999, which delegated the responsibility of integration to municipalities.

In 2000, the government presented a regulatory Immigrant Package with the goal of putting forward actions to speed up labour market integration. In 2002, Danish language tests became prerequisites for acquiring citizenship, with civic tests also introduced four years later.

Participation in the labour market is the main focus of the Danish integration policy, as it is seen as the principal channel of integration. The goal is to limit the number of people "living in parallel societies" without contact with Danish society. In 2010 full-time employment became a condition for the acquisition of permanent residence, then in 2016 it became a pre-requisite for citizenship.

Since 2019, there has been a shift towards a more stringent policy approach. According to the new legislative framework laid out by the Danish government, greater focus should be placed on the return of beneficiaries of international protection (as soon as the situation allows it), rather than on their integration (Paradigm shift). As a consequence, the term "integration" has been replaced with "self-support and return".

Denmark’s Ministry of Immigration and Integration was first established in 2002 and dissolved between 2011 and 2015. Today, it is once again active and represents the authority leading the governance of migrant integration in Denmark. It is responsible for coordinating the country’s integration policy, including on issues concerning housing for beneficiaries of international protection, the integration programme, employment and social benefits for newcomers, Danish language tuition, and the prevention of radicalisation and honour-related conflict (two issues often found to be affecting migrant communities in Denmark). The Ministry’s Immigration Service and Agency for International Recruitment and Integration is where newcomers apply for residence permits. Finally, the Division of Integration Policy holds a seat in the European Integration Network (EIN).

Municipalities also play a crucial role in the implementation of the integration policy and programme. They find housing options, pay social benefits, offer schooling and childcare, and provide access to health care services. They are also responsible for language training, though in practice this task is outsourced to language centres managed by various actors. As noted by the Integration Act, municipalities can decide the level and content of their integration efforts, as long as they fulfill the overall legal requirements. In addition, the 2016 Tripartite Agreement provided a more flexible and cost-effective legal framework to handle their integration effort - see more in the "Evaluation" section.

Denmark is the only EU country that does not benefit from the EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) due to its opt-out from EU Justice and Home Affairs (1992 Edinburgh Agreement: Denmark holds opt-outs from EU's policies related to citizenship, justice, policing, security, defence, and the adoption of the euro). Non-profit organisations and local authorities receive financing through the national budget and the funds of national ministries, as well as through other EU funds such as the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)

• Details: The EU will invest EUR 120 million ESF+ funds in Denmark to promote a more inclusive labour market and skilled workforce, helping people to develop the skills and competencies needed for a just green and digital transition.

  The ESF+ is meant to help Denmark achieve its 2030 social target to raise the employment rate to 80%, have 60% of all adults in training every year and reduce the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by nearly 30 000.

  The ESF+ in Denmark is implemented via the national programme Stronger Denmark through Education and Skills. 

  See more about the Danish ESF+ programme.

• National managing authority: The national managing authority for the European Social Fund (ESF) in Denmark is the Danish Ministry of Business and Growth (Erhvervsstyrelsen).