
Gross debt in Denmark
The government gross debt refers to the total of all sums of money that have to be paid to other countries, communities or institutions. Not included in the gross debt are the demands of a country to foreign ones.The gross debt in Denmark in the period from 1998 to 2021 was between 80.1 billion and 159.3 billion USD. The hightest level within the past 23 years was reached in 2011. However, the liabilities in 2021 have been only 146 billion USD In the same year, a budget surplus of around 9.3 billion USD was achieved.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 24,909 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 33,695 USD.
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Gross debt of the last 23 years in billion USD
Year | Denmark total | Denmark per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 105.61 bn USD | 19,911 USD | 14,079 USD |
1999 | 99.75 bn USD | 18,744 USD | 14,032 USD |
2000 | 85.97 bn USD | 16,101 USD | 11,232 USD |
2001 | 80.12 bn USD | 14,952 USD | 11,255 USD |
2002 | 88.11 bn USD | 16,389 USD | 12,258 USD |
2003 | 100.75 bn USD | 18,689 USD | 15,286 USD |
2004 | 111.20 bn USD | 20,575 USD | 17,595 USD |
2005 | 98.95 bn USD | 18,258 USD | 18,327 USD |
2006 | 89.38 bn USD | 16,438 USD | 18,877 USD |
2007 | 87.38 bn USD | 15,999 USD | 20,898 USD |
2008 | 118.47 bn USD | 21,565 USD | 24,086 USD |
2009 | 129.70 bn USD | 23,483 USD | 25,361 USD |
2010 | 137.17 bn USD | 24,726 USD | 26,496 USD |
2011 | 159.32 bn USD | 28,600 USD | 29,231 USD |
2012 | 146.50 bn USD | 26,200 USD | 28,174 USD |
2013 | 151.33 bn USD | 26,951 USD | 29,981 USD |
2014 | 156.50 bn USD | 27,731 USD | 30,648 USD |
2015 | 120.42 bn USD | 21,187 USD | 25,918 USD |
2016 | 116.72 bn USD | 20,378 USD | 26,261 USD |
2017 | 119.44 bn USD | 20,718 USD | 27,024 USD |
2018 | 121.17 bn USD | 20,914 USD | 28,448 USD |
2019 | 116.59 bn USD | 20,051 USD | 27,168 USD |
2020 | 150.56 bn USD | 25,818 USD | 30,783 USD |
2021 | 145.89 bn USD | 24,909 USD | 33,695 USD |
Comparison of gross debt per capita with the European Union in U.S. dollars
Budget deficit in Denmark

The budget balance in Denmark in the period between 1998 and 2021 varied between -11.42 billion euros and +16.06 billion euros. In 2021, Denmark reached a balance of 9.33 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a surplus of 1,593 euros per capita in Denmark. For comparison, the average debt per capita in the European Union in the same year was 1,787 euros.
Budget deficit and surplus in the last 23 years
Year | Denmark total | Denmark per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 0.09 bn USD | 16 USD | -398 USD |
1999 | 2.59 bn USD | 487 USD | -204 USD |
2000 | 3.63 bn USD | 680 USD | 112 USD |
2001 | 2.39 bn USD | 446 USD | -299 USD |
2002 | 0.65 bn USD | 120 USD | -565 USD |
2003 | 0.21 bn USD | 38 USD | -840 USD |
2004 | 5.22 bn USD | 966 USD | -920 USD |
2005 | 13.12 bn USD | 2,421 USD | -822 USD |
2006 | 14.12 bn USD | 2,597 USD | -568 USD |
2007 | 16.06 bn USD | 2,940 USD | -360 USD |
2008 | 11.28 bn USD | 2,053 USD | -1,085 USD |
2009 | -9.03 bn USD | -1,634 USD | -2,021 USD |
2010 | -8.74 bn USD | -1,575 USD | -1,970 USD |
2011 | -7.09 bn USD | -1,273 USD | -1,462 USD |
2012 | -11.42 bn USD | -2,042 USD | -1,220 USD |
2013 | -4.25 bn USD | -756 USD | -1,027 USD |
2014 | 4.04 bn USD | 716 USD | -852 USD |
2015 | -3.54 bn USD | -622 USD | -577 USD |
2016 | 0.41 bn USD | 72 USD | -423 USD |
2017 | 5.95 bn USD | 1,032 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | 2.72 bn USD | 469 USD | -139 USD |
2019 | 14.13 bn USD | 2,429 USD | -197 USD |
2020 | -0.65 bn USD | -112 USD | -2,312 USD |
2021 | 9.33 bn USD | 1,593 USD | -1,787 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)