More Danes are uncomfortable with English replacing Danish in daily life

A survey from NORSTAT, commissioned by Sune Steffen Hansen and published exclusively by The Copenhagen Post, shows that around 40% of the population is uncomfortable with English replacing Danish in their daily lives. While this is not a problem for the younger generation, half of the people in older generations have an issue with it

Bernardo Basilici Menini

May 13, 2025

While most internationals have to deal with learning Danish sooner or later, the massive influx of people from abroad is about to present itself as a language issue in the opposite direction. The overwhelming presence of English is, in fact, starting to be a problem for many Danes. This is reflected in a survey by […]

Full version of this article is only available to subscribers.

Already a subscriber, sign in here:

Lost your password?

Gain unlimited access to all of The Copenhagen Post

Our independent reporting can only be published with support from our readers.

Monthly subscription

119

DKK/month.

(Billed once a month)

Give us a try

6 month subscription

99

DKK/month.

(Billed twice a year)

Save 120 DKK

Yearly subscription

79

DKK/month.

(Billed once a year)

Save 480 DKK

Save with a company subscription?

More Danes are uncomfortable with English replacing Danish in daily life

A survey from NORSTAT, commissioned by Sune Steffen Hansen and published exclusively by The Copenhagen Post, shows that around 40% of the population is uncomfortable with English replacing Danish in their daily lives. While this is not a problem for the younger generation, half of the people in older generations have an issue with it
Be a green tourist – get free access to Copenhagen’s attractions

CopenPay is back. Last year’s attempt to get guests to take a sustainable approach when visiting Copenhagen’s attractions will be back in 2025, on an even bigger scale. 90 attractions are participating across Copenhagen and running throughout the summer
Almost 30,000 young people are out of work and education

New analysis reveals widespread mental health issues and criminal records among 25–29-year-olds outside employment and education
Denmark tops global governance rankings among OECD nations

A study surveyed more than 110,000 people across 100 countries and found Danes express the highest confidence in their government’s
Copenhagen Airport launches summer program with 315 direct routes

A few weeks ago, multiple airlines launched their summer program
The Lynch Interviews: Fergal O’Byrne

English-Australian writer and theatre director Stuart Lynch contributes a monthly column titled “The Lynch Interviews”. In this series, he engages with prominent internationals residing in Denmark or Danish individuals with a global perspective. For April, he interviews Irish playwright and writer Fergal O’Byrne, fresh from an acclaimed season of a new English-language play in Copenhagen.

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Career

Almost 30,000 young people are out of work and education

New analysis reveals widespread mental health issues and criminal records among 25–29-year-olds outside employment and education
Why your talented internationals aren’t moving up the ladder – and what to do about it

Many internationals find it difficult to advance in their new workplaces, and some quietly leave. It’s not because they lack talent. In Denmark, careers are shaped not only by skills but also by cultural understanding, informal networks, and social signals. However, internationals may not be familiar with this system or know how to navigate it
The international behind Donkey Republic: how a Turkish systems thinker reimagined urban mobility in Denmark

Erdem Ovacık, co-founder of Donkey Republic, built one of Europe’s leading bike-sharing companies from Denmark — but success as an international entrepreneur hasn’t come easy

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Jobs