Young Danish women moving to the cities

69 municipalities across the nation have at least 10 percent more young men than women

More and more young women in Denmark are leaving the rural life behind to make something of themselves in the cities.

The result is 69 municipalities across the nation having at least 10 percent more men than women in the 20-29 age bracket – up from 44 in 2008 – according to a new survey from Momentum, the newsletter of the local government association, KL.

“It’s got a lot to do with education, but also about connection,” Rasmus Ole Rasmussen, an associate professor at the Institute for People and Technology at the University of Roskilde, told Momentum.

“One could say that the women can and want to, while the men can’t and don’t want to. They are dependent on the environment they come from and the effect it has had on them. The women also have a network, but they are mobile, while the boys often want to stay the same with the same interests.”

READ MORE: Single women in Denmark increasingly moving to the city

Big city lights
A Momentum survey in 2008 showed that women were leaving outlying municipalities, but today medium-sized cities like Skanderborg, Viborg and Aalborg are also seeing an exodus of their young female populations.

The five municipalities in Denmark with the biggest surplus of men compared to women aged 20-29 are Ærø (84 percent), Samsø (51), Fanø (40), Norddjurs (37) and Lemvig (34).

Meanwhile, the six municipalities in Denmark with the biggest surplus of women compared to men aged 20-29 are Frederiksberg (16 percent), Copenhagen (13), Gentofte (10), Vallensbæk (3), Hørsholm (3) and Aarhus (2).




  • The Capital Region economy grows: now is 43% of the country

    The Capital Region economy grows: now is 43% of the country

    While other regions are struggling, Hovedstaden is growing, and the Copenhagen metropolitan area is growing even more. On the employment front, around 11,000 jobs were created in Copenhagen, while Aalborg only saw an increase of 3,600.

  • DTU named best technical university in the EU

    DTU named best technical university in the EU

    The Technical University of Denmark, located half an hour from Copenhagen, has topped a new ranking of over 200 technical universities in the EU, where it stands out particularly for its excellence in research, innovation and internationalism.

  • Christmas in Denmark starts this week: a short guide

    Christmas in Denmark starts this week: a short guide

    Starting November 5, Christmas markets, ice skating, and other events will kick off the Christmas season. In Copenhagen, the big news this year is the return of ice skating at Kongens Nytorv, reopening after 16 years.

  • Are you ready to join Denmark’s new national baseball team?

    Are you ready to join Denmark’s new national baseball team?

    Baseball isn’t the first sport that comes to mind when you think of Denmark, but a dedicated group of players and volunteers is changing that. Under the leadership of Jay Cannon, a former professional baseball player from the United States, the Danish national baseball team has recently taken home the Nordic Cup, marking a turning point in the development of the sport in this country. 

  • Danes can live with Trump – but we root for Kamala

    Danes can live with Trump – but we root for Kamala

    You won’t find many Danes who hope Donald Trump wins the presidential election on Tuesday. After all, last time he wanted to buy Greenland from us. But the US is probably Denmark’s best friend in the world, even if the admiration is declining

  • These are expressions Danes resent

    These are expressions Danes resent

    You want to do well at work but find it difficult to understand the terms. Danes often say something that doesn’t quite express what they mean. Here are expressions you need to be aware of – not to use!


  • DTU named best technical university in the EU

    DTU named best technical university in the EU

    The Technical University of Denmark, located half an hour from Copenhagen, has topped a new ranking of over 200 technical universities in the EU, where it stands out particularly for its excellence in research, innovation and internationalism.

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.