Conor Stewart
Research expert covering health & pharmaceuticals in the UK & Europe
State of health in Denmark - statistics & facts
The share of people classing themselves as being in good health is decreasing in Denmark. In 2023, fewer than two-thirds of surveyed Danes perceived themselves to be in good or very good health. This was down from 72.5 percent reporting to be in good health in 2013. A child born in Denmark in 2022 could expect to live 81.3 years on average, placing the Nordic country alongside other developed European countries. Females have a higher life expectancy than males, with females in Denmark holding a life expectancy of around four years longer than males.
Obesity in Denmark
In many developed nations, obesity is a severe public health concern, and in Denmark this is no different. Obesity can make developing many health conditions more likely, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. As of 2021, around 60 percent of men and 46 percent of women in Denmark were classed as overweight or obese. According to the WHO, having a body mass index of 25 or higher is defined as overweight, while a BMI greater than 30 classifies a person as obese. Furthermore, surgeries for obesity have been generally on the rise in Denmark since 2015.Health conditions in Denmark
In 2023, over 271 thousand people in Denmark were living with type 2 diabetes. This represents a large increase from 2008 when 146 thousand Danes had type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by several unhealthy lifestyle factors, including obesity, as mentioned above. Furthermore, over 47.5 thousand new cancer cases were registered in the country during 2020. Breast cancer was the most common type of cancer diagnosed among women, while genital cancers were the most common type among men. Gastrointestinal and skin cancers were other common cancers among both genders.Digital health
According to the OECD, Denmark had the best-ranked digital health readiness in the organization. This encompassed factors such as timely access to data, interoperability, and use of data for primary and secondary purposes. Furthermore, according to a 2023 survey, 83 percent of surveyed adults in Denmark were satisfied with their access to digital healthcare data. Around a quarter of Danes tracked their health through a wearable or smartwatch, while two-fifths reported using mobile apps to track their health. The use of digital health can improve health by encouraging healthy behaviors such as more exercise and better diets. Lowering the burden of the health conditions mentioned above and therefore lowering the burden on the healthcare service overall.
