Education is one of the key priorities in the Danish welfare system. In fact, Danes enjoy free primary schools, upper secondary schools, and universities. As of 2023, the most common type of education completed in Denmark was vocational education and training programs. Close to ** percent of the population between 15 and 69 years of age had completed this education. Meanwhile, around ********** had completed a primary education, whereas around ** percent had completed a vocational bachelor education.
Primary and upper secondary education
Primary education comprises of 10 years of compulsory education in Denmark. Over the past decade, there were fewer pupils in primary education, likely due to a general decrease in the number of births in recent years. Moreover, the number of students in upper secondary education decreased from 2017 after having increased until then.
Higher education
The same tendency can be observed for higher education: as of 2023, over ** percent of the Danish population had attained a type of higher education. After having peaked in 2014, the number of university students decreased, reaching around ******* students as of 2021. Both the number of master and doctorate students in the country fluctuated over the past 10 years.
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Statistics Denmark. (April 12, 2024). Highest education completed among the population in Denmark in 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 08, 2026, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/874956/educational-attainment-of-the-population-in-denmark/
Statistics Denmark. "Highest education completed among the population in Denmark in 2023." Chart. April 12, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 08, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/874956/educational-attainment-of-the-population-in-denmark/
Statistics Denmark. (2024). Highest education completed among the population in Denmark in 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 08, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/874956/educational-attainment-of-the-population-in-denmark/
Statistics Denmark. "Highest Education Completed among The Population in Denmark in 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/874956/educational-attainment-of-the-population-in-denmark/
Statistics Denmark, Highest education completed among the population in Denmark in 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/874956/educational-attainment-of-the-population-in-denmark/ (last visited May 08, 2026)
Highest education completed among the population in Denmark in 2023 [Graph], Statistics Denmark, April 12, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/874956/educational-attainment-of-the-population-in-denmark/