Public money
Where does the government’s money come from?
In 2023, all levels of government in Denmark together received € 190.4 billion. That is about € 32,000 per inhabitant, or € 2,670 per month. Average in the European Union: € 17,500 per inhabitant.
Good to know (click to read)
- "Per inhabitant" is an average: we divide everything by the number of inhabitants, babies and pensioners included. What you pay yourself depends on your wages, what you buy and where you live.
- Part of the taxes is paid by companies, not by the inhabitants themselves.
- If the government spends more than it receives, it borrows the difference. That is how the debt grows.
Where does each euro come from?
-
Taxes on income and wealth 59 % · € 18,780 per inhabitant
Personal income tax on your wages or pension, corporation tax paid by companies, tax on savings…
-
Taxes on what you buy 28 % · € 8,860 per inhabitant
VAT, excise duties on fuel, tobacco and alcohol, registration duties…
Of which VAT: € 34.8 billion.
-
Social contributions 1 % · € 450 per inhabitant
What employees, employers and the self-employed pay for pensions, illness and unemployment.
-
Other income 12 % · € 3,930 per inhabitant
Interest and dividends, sales of services (e.g. tickets, entrance fees), money from the EU…
Income and spending in 2023
- Received
- € 190.4 billion
- Spent
- € 177.3 billion
Surplus: € 2,200 per inhabitant
With this, the government can pay off debts.
Government debt (2025)
27 % of GDP
About € 18,900 per inhabitant.
GDP is everything a country earns together in a year. 100% means: the debt is as big as one year of income for the whole country. The European rules ask for 60% at most.
Debt as % of GDP, per year
Source: Eurostat, government revenue (gov_10a_main) and debt (gov_10dd_edpt1), CC BY 4.0. All levels of government together, including social security.