Rapid Expansion: Identifying Danish Urban Areas Boasting Swiftest Development
Life in Denmark's Growing Mid-Sized Towns by Michael Barrett
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Denmark's smaller cities are bursting at the seams, according to data released by Statistics Denmark.
At the beginning of 2025, around 42% of Denmark's population resided in towns with at least 50,000 residents - a considerable jump from five percent lower ten years prior in 2015. These figures aren't just due to folks flocking to bigger cities; several mid-sized towns have gained enough residents to make the cut.
Roskilde, Herning, Silkeborg, and Vejle are among the booming towns. Vejle has seen one of the largest growths in the country in relative terms, now housing 62,000 people compared to just under 54,000 a decade ago. It's a similar story for Vejle's neighbor to the north, Horsens.
Copenhagen and Aarhus have also seen sizable increases in their populations over the last ten years, with almost 1.4 million people in the Greater Copenhagen area and over 300,000 residents in Aarhus.
Why the boom in these areas? Tore Stramer, senior economist with the Danish Chamber of Commerce, points to the abundance of businesses in and around the bigger cities, giving them an edge in global competition. With more options for employment, it's no surprise that people are moving to these areas.
It's not just towns that are seeing this boom; rural areas in Denmark are seeing a dip, with 11.2% of the population residing there at the start of this year, down from 12.3% in 2015.
Denmark's total population now hovers around 5,992,734, and it is expected to surpass the 6 million mark by the end of the year. If you're considering a move to Denmark, chances are you'll find a welcoming community - and a job - in one of the country's growing mid-sized towns.
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- Michael Barrett's article also highlights an increase in population in some Danish mid-sized towns, such as Horsens, which has seen a growth similar to Vejle in relative terms.
- Interestingly, the boom in major cities like Copenhagen and Aarhus is not the only trend in Denmark, as policy-and-legislation and politics surrounding business growth have contributed to the growth of these mid-sized towns too.
- The growing mid-sized towns in Denmark offer more than just general news; they also present opportunities for art, culture, and space exploration, as new businesses and industries emerge in these areas.
