Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Denmark
Denmark: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 41.5% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Denmark, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for social protection spending as share of total government spending in Denmark is 41.5%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Denmark peaked at 43.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 41.2%, in 2021.
That places Denmark 3rd out of 37 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 42.6% | — |
| 2008 | 42.0% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 42.2% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 43.2% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 43.2% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 41.8% | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 43.4% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 42.9% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 42.6% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 43.2% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 43.4% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 42.5% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 42.9% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 41.5% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 41.2% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 41.5% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 41.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 41.5% | -0.1% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 41.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 41.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.5%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.3% | 42.0% | 42.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 42.9% | 41.8% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.4% | 41.2% | 41.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More reference data data for Denmark
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1915 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4109 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.99 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social protection spending as share of total government spending in Denmark?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Denmark was 41.5% in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 43.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.2% in 2021.
- How does Denmark rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Denmark ranks 3rd out of 37 countries with data for 2024.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Social protection spending as share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.